HIRSHKIND,  PARKER  &  CO., 

WHOLESALE  AKD  RETAIL 

CLOTHIERS 


SEYMOUR  DURST 


~t '  'Tort  nteutv  ^Am^ierdam-  oj>  Je  Matihatans 


When  you  leave,  please  leave  this  hook 

Because  it  has  heen  said 
"Ever  thing  comes  t'  him  who  waits 

Except  a  loaned  book." 


USB, 


we  also  have  an  immense  variety  of 

YOUTHS',  BOYS'  AND  CHILDHENS  CLOTHING 

Of  same  fabrics  as  our  Men's  stock  at  proportionally 
LOW  PRICES. 

We  will  remain  at  onr  old.  location,  cor,  Broadway  &  Grand  St,  nntill  Jan.15th.18 


MANUFACTURER, 

SiS^S?  I  Cor- Churoh  St"  Y' 

AQUARIA,  any  size,  SQUARE  &  OCTAGON, 

With  and  Without  Fountain  Attachment, 

On  Stands  or  not — finished  in  the  various  styles  of  bronzing — at  very  low  prices. 


FROM 


SI.25 


FROM 


TO 


$150  00 


each,  m 


$150,00 


EACH. 


All  kinds  of  Ornaments  for  AQUARIA,  com- 
prising in  part  of  CASTLES,  RUINS,  ROCKS, 
ARCHES,  &c,  &c. 

GLASS  FISH  GLOBES,  all  sizes. 

FOUNTAINS,  VASES,  PROPAGATING  CASES, 
FERNERIES,  LAWN  SETTEES, 

GOLD    FISH,  &  C. 

WHOLESALE  and  RETAIL. 


QL 

N5Z 


COPYRIGHT. 


1877- 


D.  I.  CARSON  &  CO, 


INTRODUCTION. 


Now  that 
we  have  a 
New  York 
Aquarium 
where  we 
can  go  and 
lounge  and 
study  Ic- 
thyology,  as  Mira- 
beau  wished  to  die 
"to  the  sound  of 
delicious  music," 
w  e  appreciate 
what  a  boon  it  is, 
and   we    have  a 
glimmering  idea 
that  it  is  an  abso- 
lute necessity. 
All  successful  affairs  are 
necessities  ;  it  is  only  the 
black  list  of  failures  that 
shows  how  many  super- 
fluities  designing  capi- 
talists have  endeavored 
to  thrust  upon  society. 
But  no  one,  perhaps,  in 
looking  at  the  preserved 
Octopus,  or  in  watching 
the  rainbow  hues  of  the1 
gold    fish    tank  wourd 
imagine  what  a  terribly 
arduous   undertaking  it- 
was,  this  giving  to  New, 


233.  THE  LADY  FISH.  (Albula  conorhynchus).  The 
general  appearance  of  this  fish  is  similar  to  that  of  the 
Striped  Bass,  but  there  is  only  one  dorsal  fin.  It  has  been 
caught  occasionally  on  our  shores  during  last  summer. 

234.  THE  ELECTRIC  EEL.  (Gymtwtus  eleciricus.)  These 
interesting  creatures  were  captured  in  the  Amazon  River 
and  brought  to  the  Aquarium  on  July  25th  of  this  year 

235.  THE  LITTLE  CUSK.  (Ophidium  marginatum)  This 
fish  which  occasionally  is  found  in  our  waters  has  a  great 
resemblance  to  the  Slippery  Dick,  (No.  91  of  this  Guide) 
both  in  form  and  habits. 

236.  THE  SUN  FISH.  (Orthagoriscus  Mo/a).  A  stuffed 
specimen  of  this  fish  is  exhibited  at  the  end  of  the  table- 
tanks  ;  one  live  specimen,  weighing  150  lbs.,  was  obtained 
in  July,  1878,  but  died  the  same  day. 

237.  THE  MAN-EATING  SHARK,  or  SHOVEL-NOSE. 
(Eugomp/wdi/s  littoralis).  This  is  the  most  dangerous  species 
of  shark,  hated  and  feared  by  every  sailor.  Last  summer 
a  specimen  of  this  fish  killed  a  boy  of  fourteen  years  near 
Red  Hook. 

238.  THE  SWORD  PRAWN.  (Penacus  brasilicusis.)  This 
is  the  same  "  Shrimp  "  that  is  brought  from  Charleston  to 
our  markets.  In  summer-time  it  is  occasionally  found  near 
our  shores. 

239.  THE  WING  SNAIL.  {Strombu  Gigas).  A  single 
live  specimen  was  obtained,  presented  to  the  Aquarium  by 
Consul  C.  F.  Allen,  Bermuda.  The  shells  are  used  as  or- 
naments around  flower-beds. 

240.  THE  SEA  CUCUMBER,  (Thyone  Briarius).  There 
are  about  150  specimens  burried  in  the  sand  at  the  bottom 
of  Tank  No.  4.  Many  of  them  protrude  their  ten  beauti- 
ful tentacles,  which  resemble  the  most  delicate  brushes  or 
pinnated  leaves. 

241.  THE  GREEN  SEA  ANEMONE.  (Anthea  Cereus.) 

242.  THE  PARASITIC  ANEMONE.(Sagarfra parasitica) 

243.  THE  RED  ANEMONE.  {Actinia  mesembrianihemvm) 
are  imported  from  England. 

244.  THE  SEA  CARNATION.  (Ac/inohba  diant/ms.)  This 
is  the  most  beautiful  among  our  Sea  Flowers.  Its  delicate 
crown  is  adorned  by  hundreds  of  slender  tentacles,  its  body 
is  stretched  in  an  elegant  way. 


THE  NUMBERS  CORRESPOND  WITH  THE  NUMBERS  OF  THE  LABELS  ON  THE  TANKS. 


POPULAR  DESCRIPTION 


OP  THE 


INHABITANTS  OF  THE  TANKS. 


2 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


'  CLASS— MAMMALIA. 

O  R  d  e  r — A  rtiodactyla .        F  a  m  .  — Pack)  'dermata; 

1.  THE  HIPPOPOTAMUS  OR  RIVER  HORSE 
(Hippopotamus  amphibius).  This  animal  was  captured  on 
April  14th,  1875,  by  the  collectors  of  Chas.  Reiche  &  Bro.r 
on  an  expedition  to  the  White  Nile.  It  was  taken  from 
its  mother  fifteen  minutes  after  birth,  the  parent  being- 
killed.  Three  weeks  prior  to  this  time  the  natives  had 
observed  and  pointed  out  to  the  hunting  party  a  pregnant 
female,  and  it  was  at  once  decided  to  follow  and  watch  her. 
When  the  animal  had  separated  from  the  herd  and  selected 
a  quiet,  solitary  place,  the  hunters,  aided  by  spy-glasses, 
kept  a  careful  and  constant  watch  on  her  from  a  long  dis- 
tance, and  so  perfect  were  their  arrangements,  that  only  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  after  the  birth  they  were  in  possession 
of  the  young  one.  The  reward  of  the  natives  consisted  of 
the  carcass  of  the  mother,  a  prize  they  were  highly  satis- 
fied with,  as  not  only  the  flesh  is  well  flavored  and  tender, 
resembling  that  of  the  hog,  but  the  skin,  the  hoofs,  and 
many  other  parts  of  the  body  are  useful  to  them,  in  many 
ways.  The  hunters  only  claimed  the  skull,  which  was 
brought  with  the  young  animal  to  New  York,  on  October 
27th,  1875. 

To  feed  and  transport  the  baby  hippopotamus  through 
the  deserts  of  Africa,  twenty-five  goats  and  four  strong 
camels  were  employed,  the  former  to  provide  it  with  their 
milk,  the  latter  to  carry  it  in  a  suitable  tank  between  them. 
Its  weight  was  about  ninety  pounds  when  captured,  it 
being  a  female  and  not  as  heavy  as  a  male,  which  latter, 
as  has  been  seen  in  the  London  Zoological  Gardens, 
weighs  nearly  a  hundred  pounds  when  born.  After  its 
arrival  it  was  put  under  the  care  of  Dr.  Kohn,  who 
succeeded  in  keeping  the  animal  during  these  two 
years  in  perfect  health  and  to  whom  it  is  attached  to  such  a 
degree  that  it  follows  him  like  a  dog  wherever  he  goes.  Its 
food  consisted  entirely  of  milk  during  the  first  three  months 
of  its  stay  in  America,  and  was  then  changed,  to  bread,  corn- 
meal  and  vegetables.  Hay  it  does  not  like  much,  refusing 
even  common  grass  in  summer  ;  but  it  is  very  fond  of  a 


NOTE. 


The  two  Baby  Hippopotami  now  on  exhibition  were  captured  in  Feb- 
ruary 1878,  by  the  collectors  of  Chas.  Reiche  and  Bro.,  on  an  expedition  to 
Abyssinia. 

The  party  which  succeeded  in  getting  these  two  precious  pets  left 
Europe  early  in  September  1877,"  and  pushed  on  to  the  region  of  the  Atbara 
and  Setith  tributaries  of  the  Nile.  Here  they  saw  the  Hippos  at  a  distance 
and  tracked  them  almost  every  day.  The  way  they  hunt  them  is  by  means 
of  a  harpoon,  which  consists  of  a  short  iron  blade  with  a  grapnel  hook  and 
a  long  wooden  handle.  When  the  iron  is  thrown  into  the  skin  of  the 
Hippo,  the  wooden  part  of  the  harpoon  soon  falls  off,  and  a  long  rope  fast- 
ened to  the  iron,  and  bearing  a  piece  of  light  wood  at  the  other  end,  points 
out  where  the  wounded  animal  is  hidden  under  water.  Then  the  Homrans 
native  hunters  of  Abyssinia,  jump  on  and  try  to  get  the  block.  They  swim 
like  fish,  darting  hundreds  of  yards  under  water,  and  fearless  of  the  Cro- 
codiles they  pursue  the  wounded  Hippo,  and  seizing  the  rope  by  the  block, 
they  drag  the  animal  toward  the  shore.  As  soon  as  it  rises  to  the  surface  they 
give  it  another  dose  of  harpooning.  At  last  it  is  despatched  with  broad 
swords,  or  the  European  hunters  kill  it  with  a  shot  from  their  big  Elephant 
guns. 

Our  party  exclusively  hunted  for  females  in  company  with  young. 
The  mother  must  be  killed  in  order  to  catch  the  young  alive. 

When  the  party  reached  Europe  in  June  of  this  year,  their  stock  of 
animals  consisted,  besides  the  two  Hippos,  of  seven  elephants,  fifteen  giraffes, 
twelve  lions,  six  ostriches,  twenty  antelopes,  two  leopards,  tour  wart  hogs, 
eighteen  large  monkeys,  one  ant  bear,  two  porcupines,  ten  Egyptian  geese, 
five  secretary  birds,  two  saddle-billed  storks,  and  a  host  of  minor  curiosi" 
ties. 


NEW   YORK  AQUARIUM. 


3 


peculiar  kind  of  short  grass  growing  in  the  Western  States, 
which  it  occasionally  eats  in  considerable  quantities 

The  Hippopotamus  is  a  lazy,  indolent  animal  ;  sleeps 
many  hours  in  the  day  and  rests  without  interruption  at 
night.  It  takes  to  the  water  naturally,  when  moderately 
warm,  and  it  will  enter  reluctantly  cold  water  when  or- 
dered. Last  winter  it  occasionally  bathed  in  water  of  350 
Fahr.,  its  health  being  uninjured  apparently.  The  thick 
skin  and  the  layer  of  fat  beneath  is  a  sufficient  protection 
against  cold.  Yet  it  must  be  stated  that  in  cold  weather 
its  skin  bursts  into  folds  at  the  neck  and  sides,  sufficiently 
deep  to  place  one's  finger. 

When  left  alone,  or  when  it  perceives  its  keeper,  it  utters 
short,  rough  sounds.  Even  when  it  is  not  able  to  see  him, 
and  when  separated  from  him  by  an  opaque  wall,  it  will 
smell  his  presence  from  a  distance  and  act  accordingly. 
All  its  senses  are  well  developed. 

It  generally  is  obedient  and  can  be  guided  by  commands, 
but  when  frightened,  or  when  its  eyes  are  not  sufficiently 
clear — an  occurrence  happening  once  in  about  a  month 
— it  is  wild,  treacherous,  and  not  to  be  trusted.  At  such 
times  it  is  useless  to  attempt  to  drive  it  or  use  a  whip  or  to 
use  force  in  any  way;  the  big,  unwieldy  mass,  now  weigh- 
ing about  six  hundred  pounds,  will  easily  overcome  any 
temporary  obstacle.  When  it  expects  food  or  when  its 
keeper  orders  it,  it  will  open  its  immense  mouth  and  per- 
mit an  inspection  of  its  teeth,  but  generally  it  does  not 
care  much  for  strangers,  snaps  at  them,  and  sometimes  will 
tear  the  coat  or  pants  of  some  careless  visitor.  At  one 
time  it  even  succeeded  in  pulling  a  watch  and  chain  from 
the  pocket  of  a  person.  It  dislikes  children,  who  should 
not  be  allowed  to  go  too  near  the  animal. 

In  October,  1876,  it  cast  its  front  teeth,  in  the  same  man- 
ner as  children  do,  the  new  ones  absorbing  the  roots  of 
the  primary  teeth,  which,  when  fallen  out,  measure  but  a 
quarter  of  an  inch  in  height.  Since  that  time,  the  irew 
teeth  have  grown  considerably,  particularly  the  two  mid- 
dle incisors  of  the  lower  jaw;  the  molar  teeth  appear  to  be 
very  small,  because  the  thick,  fleshy  gum  covers  the  greater 
part  of  them.  Its  skin  is  almost  naked,  covered  only  by 
a  few  short,  black  hairs,  but  beset  with  numerous  red  spots, 
probably  the  dried  secretion  of  the  dermal  glands.  When 


4 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


it  sweats  the  skin  is  covered  with  a  kind  of  blood-red  slime, 
the  exact  nature  or  purpose  of  which  is  unknown. 

The  Hippopotamus  is  considered  the  most  valuable  of 
all  exhibited  animals,  and  this  is  the  first  time  that  a 
specimen  has  been  seen  as  tame  and  obedient  to  its  keeper. 


Order — Pinnipedia .       F  am  . — Phocidae. 

2.  THE  COMMON  SEAL.  ( Phoca  vitulina.)  A  lengthy 
description  of  these  pets  of  the  Aquarium  is  unnecessary. 
Everyone    who   has  seen  their  fat   supple  bodies,  their 

intelligent  coun- 
tenances, their 
curious  flippers, 
and  has  observed 
their  great  ability 
in  swimming  and 


di  v 


mg 


has 


been  pleased  and 
amused  with  their 
antics  both  in  and 
out  of  the  water. 
They  have 
learned  to  climb, 
to  ring  a  bell,  to 
answer  questions 
by  barking,  to 
make  their  bows 
to  the  audience, 
etc. 

9.  THE  BLAD- 
D  E  R  N  O  S  E 
£'  SEAL.  (Cysto- 

phoracristata.)  A  young  specimen  of  this  interesting  seal 
was  kept  alive  in  the  spring  of  1877  for  eight  weeks.  Its 
peculiarity  consist  in  a  hood,  or  hollow  bag,  right  over  the 
nose,  which  can  be  blown  up  at  will  and  made  to  resemble 
a  cap  or  hat.  Ours  was  a  young  male,  with  a  small  protu- 
berance which  was  raised  only  under  excitement.  It  was 
very  ferocious,  tried  to  bite  whoever  approached  it,  and 
died  at  last  from  refusal  of  food. 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


5 


4.  THE  NORTHERN  SEA  LION.  {Eumetopias  Stelleri) 
This  large  and  powerful  animal  was  brought  from  the 
western  coast  of  North  America,  where  it  is  found  in  herds. 
The  extreme  length  of  a  male  is  said  to  be  sixteen  feet, 
but  animals  measuring  twelve  feet  are  seldom  captured. 
Females  generally  are  not  half  as  large  as  males.  Many- 
thousands  of  them  are  slain  annually  ;  their  skin  is  used  for 
glue-stock,  their  blubber,  consisting  of  a  double  coating  se- 
parated by  a  thin  layer  of  muscular  tissue,  yields  oil,  in 
average  ten  gallons  from  each  animal;  the  long  spires 
of  their  whiskers,  sometimes  eighteen  inches  in  length, 
are  exported  to  China,  where  they  are  manufactured  into 
personal  ornaments. 

This  Sea  Lion  has  an  elongated  head  and  neck,  the  latter 
without  the  mane  which  is  characteristic  of  the  southern 
Sea  Lion  ;  its  upper  lip  is  projecting  and  bears  strong  flex- 
ible whiskers ;  its  eyes  are  full  of  expression;  its  ears  small, 
cylindrical  at  the  root,  tapering  to  a  point,  and  covered 
with  short,  fine  hair.  The  teeth  are  strong,  glistening  and 
white.  As  in  other  Seals,  the  body  resembles  more  a  flex- 
ible bag  filled  with  fat  and  meat  than  the  body  of  an 
animal  with  a  bony  skeleton.  Its  flippers  are  encased  with 
a  sort  of  thick  shagreen,  and  are  extremely  long,  the  fingers 
project  far  over  the  horny  claws  so  that  the  flippers  appear 
in  a  very  peculiar  way  when  the  animal  uses  them  to  clean 
its  skin.  Besides,  they  act  in  a  threefold  manner,  as  legs, 
feet,  and  fins.  The  color  of  the  body  is  varying;  dark 
brown,  reddish  brown,  dull  or  light  yellowish  gray. 

The  Sea  Lions  are  found  from  the  Galopagos  Islands  to 
the  extreme  north,  and  extend  westward  to  the  eastern 
coast  of  Siberia.  They  congregate  in  large  herds  on  the 
islands  and  along  the  coast  during  the  pupping  season, 
which  lasts  three  or  four  months  in  summer.  During  this 
time  they  feed  very  little  ;  the  males  are  most  lively,  bark 
and  roar  terribly  so  as  to  drown  the  noise  of  the  heaviest 
surf,  and  fight  desperately  with  each  other,  mutilating 
their  bodies  and  not  unfrequently  disabling  some  of  them 
from  further  association  with  their  companions.  In  such 
strifes  the  ultimate  victor  has  the  supreme  control  over  the 
whole  herd  or  company.  Both  sexes  unite  in  caring  for 
the  young,  which  at  first  have  great  aversion  to  the  water; 
teach  them   their  various  movements   and   habits,  and 


6 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


to  capture  their  prey.  At  the  close  of  the  season,  in  Sep- 
tember  or  October,  they  return  to  the  sea,  where  they  roam 
in  all  directions  in  quest  of  food,  consisting  of  fish,  mol- 
lusks,  crustaceans,  and  seafowl,  particularly  gulls. 

The  whalers  kill  them  with  rifles,  aiming  at  the  ear-— on. 
other  parts  of  the  body  the  ball  has  but  little  effect — some- 
times they  succeed  in  cutting  off  their  retreat  to  the  sea 
and  then  dispatch  them  with  clubs  and  spears. 


Order — Cetacea. 

5.  THE  BOTTLENOSE  DOLPHIN  (Delphinus  tursio). 
A  specimen  measuring  eight  feet  in  length  was  captured  in 
the  neighborhood  of  New  York  and  kept  alive  for  nearly 
twro  months. 

6.  THE  WHTTE  WHALE  (Ddphinapterus  lencas).  The 
effort  made  in  the  early  history  of  the  Aquarium  to  place 
one  or  more  white  whales  on  exhibition,  was  met  by  many 
serious  obstacles,  and  only  by  the  utmost  pluck  and  perse- 
verance was  the  enterprise  successful.  In  the  first  place,  it 
involved  the  outlay  of  considerable  capital  with  the  utmost 
uncertainty  of  any  favorable  results  ;  while  secondly,  there 
were  innumerable  difficulties  and  dangers  to  be  met  and 
overcome. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1876,  Captain  Zack  Coup,  started 
on  the  perilous  journey.  His  route  was  via  Quebec  and 
down  the  north  shore  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  The  mode  of 
travel  was  by  sleighs  as  far  as  they  were  available.  After^ 
wards  it  was  by  sleds  drawn  by  a  hardy  breed  of  dogs,  and 
on  snow-shoes.  These  appliances  being  all  arranged  at 
Quebec,  Captain  Coup  and  his  fellow-travelers  were  soon, 
on  the  confines  of  an  uninhabited  region  of  snow,  the  only 
sign  of  life  being  an  occasional  wolf,  or  fox.  Nothing 
beyond  the  usual  incidents  of  travel,  which  consist  of 
numerous  upsets  in  the  snow,  and  interviews  with  hunting 
parties  of  peaceable  Indians,  occurred  on  the  way.  The 
fishing  coast  was  finally  reached  and  an  island  in  the  lowrer 
St.  Lawrence  was  selected  as  the  headquarters  of  this 
perilous  adventure.  It  being  in  advance  of  the  season 
when  the  whales  descend  to  the  coast  of  Labrador,  Cap- 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


7 


tain  Coup  availed  himself  of  the  time  to  make  his  excava- 
tions and  enclosures.  These  are  the  means  of  capture  and 
safe  keeping,  and  they  are  built  between  high  and  low  tide, 


so  that  the  huge  animal  is  in  bondage  before  he  knows  it, 
and  entirely  free  from  injury.  Two  being  secured,  early  in 
May,  the  work  of  preparation  for  their  removal  to  New 


s 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


York  began.  Huge  and  strongly-built  boats  were  made 
and  thickly  padded  with  sea-weed;  the  Whales  transferred 
thereto,  were  shipped  on  board  of  a  schooner  and  brought 
to  Quebec.  Thence  they  were  removed  to  an  Express  car 
and  brought  by  the  Grand  Trunk  Railway  to  Portland, 
Maine;  one  more  transfer  to  a  steamer,  and  the  living  and 
curious  burden  was  on  its  way  to  New  York. 

Thus  was  settled  the  practicability  of  handling  Whales 
for  aquarial  purposes,  and  subsequent  expeditions  so 
far  succeeded  as  to  bring  as  many  as  fourteen  in  all.  It  is 
however  a  too  costly  enterprise  to  continue,  and  the  pro- 
prietors feel  that  even 'more  than  a  reasonable  expectation 
on  the  part  of  the  public  has  been  gratified,  and  that  in  dis- 
continuing for  a  time  the  exhibition  of  Whales  they  will 
be  free  from  the  imputation  of  indifference  either  as  to  their 
own  duty,  or  to  the  gratification  of  public  curiosity  and 
scientific  examination. 

The  first  two  Whales  arrived  in  New  York,  in  May  of 
last  year,  and  were  the  occasion  of  great  excitement  and 
curiosity.  But  a  greater  ovation  was  given  when  two 
others  were  brought  to  the  Sea  Side  Aquarium  at  Coney 
Island  last  summer.  The  Aquarium  there  was  not  yet 
formally  opened  to  the  public,  but  the  number  of  employees 
and  laborers  called  together  to  receive  and  escort  these 
huge  animals,  was  large  enough  to  crowd  the  place.  Two 
big  boxes,  each  containing  one  whale,  were  carefully  car- 
ried inside  by  twenty-four  men,  one  of  the  sides  of  each 
box  was  knocked  out,  and  the  animals  were  rolled  in  over 
thick  layers  of  sea-weed.  Before  they  were  placed  in  the 
water,  they  behaved  as  quietly  as  a  turtle  nailed  to  the  deck 
of  a  ship.  They  breathed  regularly  through  the  big  spout- 
hole  on  the  upper  end  of  the  head,  but  neither  opened  their 
mouth  nor  moved  their  tail  ^or  fin,  and  the  big,  unwieldy 
body  looked  almost  like  a  corpse.  The  grayish-white  skin 
was  scratched  and  torn  in  many  places,  and  a  look  both 
at  the  big  animal  in  its  narrow  box  and  at  the  gang  of 
rough,  weather-beaten  men  that  formed  its  escort  plainly 
told  of  the  hardships  and  fatigues  which  they  must  have 
undergone. 

Both  whales  and  men  were  happy  and  contented  indeed, 
when  the  transfer  to  the  tank  was  over.  The  whales 
showed  plainly  they  were  satisfied  and  at  ease,  and  though 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


9 


thev  could  not  give  vent  to  their  joy  by  jolly  cheers,  as  the 
men  did,  they  made  noise  enough  by  a  lively  splashing  of 
the  water  with  their  powerful  tails  and  loudly  throwing 
out  the  air  through  their  spout-holes.  Soon  the  surface 
of  the  water  was  covered  with  numerous  fragments  of 
the  skin,  and  a  few  days  later  the  whales  appeared  in  an 
entirely  new  covering,  of  a  lighter  color  than  before. 
As  long  as  they  lived  in  the  big  tank  of  the  Aquarium, 
they  kept  together,  always  swimming  alongside  of  each 
other.  They  never  changed  their  position.  One  of  them 
was  at  the  outside  of  the  circle  all  the  time,  the  other  at 
the  inside  of  it.  They  never  turned  around  so  as  to  swim 
their  way  backwards;  regularly,  as  the  hands  of  a  watch, 
and  in  the  same  direction  as  this,  they  moved  around  their 
tank.  Even  at  night  it  never  could  be  observed  that  they 
rested  or  swam  slowTlier  than  usual,  but,  on  the  contrary, 
as  soon  as  it  was  dark,  they  were  more  lively  than  before. 
It  does  not  seem  that  they  ever  sleep. 

The  only  change  in  their  habits  is  seen  when  a  fresh 
supply  of  eels,  their  regular  food,  is  thrown  in.  Then  they 
begin  to  dive  after  them  and  chase  them;  keep  longer 
under  water,  and  spout  more  vigorously  than  before. 

Another  change  was  observed  in  one  of  the  Whales  on 
a  Sunday  morning.  The  animal  was  moving  slowlier  than 
usual,  and  when  it  came  to  the  surface  to  spout,  the  accom- 
panying sound  was  loud,  harsh  and  disagreeable.  It  resem- 
bled the  breathing  sound  of  a  man  who  has  an  obstacle  in 
his  throat  and  endeavors  to  throw  it  out.  The  Whale  is 
hoarse,  he  has  got  a  cold,  was  the  general  impression.  This 
continued  about  two  hours,  when  the  sound  grew  less  noisy 
and  slowly  changed  to  its  normal  condition.  Exactly  three 
weeks  later,  on  another  fine  Sunday  morning,  the  same 
animal  seemed  to  be  extremely  weak.  For  the  first  time 
it  really  ceased  to  move  or  moved  very  slowly,  at  the  same 
time  being  unable  to  keep  its  balance,  and  turning  a  little 
on  its  side,  just  as  seen  in  fish  when  they  are  weak  and  dy- 
ing. The  other  Whale  soon  began  to  perceive  that  some- 
thing unusual  and  alarming  was  going  on.  At  first  he 
swam  a  little  slowlier,  so  as  to  be  always  near  his  compan- 
ion, but  when  even  then  he  found  himself  alone,  as  the 
other  one  did  not  move  at  all,  he  made  a  small  circle 
through  a  quarter  of  the  tank  so  as  to  come  up  with  him 


10 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM 


again.  Sometimes  he  dived  right  under  the  sick  compan- 
ion— a  behavior  never  seen  before  by  any  one  present — 
so  that  his  back  coming  up  really  touched  the  belly  of  this 
one  to  raise  and  support  it. 

The  spectacle  of  the  dying  Whale  and  the  touching  as- 
sistance of  his  companion  attracted  a  great  many  visitors, 
and  every  change  in  the  behavior  of  the  two  wras  watched 
with  anxiety.  Two  hours  passed,  when  a  change  to  the 
worse  was  observed.  The  sick  Whale  turned  completely 
over  and  swam  on  his  back.  Endeavoring  to  gain  the  old 
position,  he  used  up  all  the  strength  which  was  left  to  him, 
and  the  visitors  were  right  in  saying  that  this  was  his 
death  struggle.  After  repeating  this  three  times,  and 
every  time  trying  harder,  but  with  less  success,  to  regain 
his  lost  balance,  he  ceased  to  move  and  spout.  The  Whale 
died  exactly  at  noon,  July  15. 

At  a  post-mortem  examination  it  was  found  that  the 
cold  which  the  Whale  had  three  weeks  before,  was  the  cause 
of  his  death.  The  big  lungs  were  congested  and  unable 
to  contain  the  quantity  of  air  necessary  for  the  sustenance 
of  life. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  mention  that  the  Whale  was 
found  to  possess  two  large  stomachs,  the  first  one  lined  on 
the  inside  with  a  great  number  of  compound  warts,  the 
second  one  smooth.  Both  are  connected  three  inches  be- 
low the  end  of  the  gullet,  so  that  the  first  stomach  may  be 
regarded  as  a  kind  of  c cecum  or  blind-gut.  There  were 
found  some  fragments  of  sea-lettuce  and  buccinum-snails 
in  this  stomach,  and  it  is  very  likely  that  it  serves  as  a 
receptacle  for  vegetable  food,  which  is  changed  here  i:. 
about  the  same  way  as  in  the  first  stomach  of  ruminant 
animals. 

The  remaining  whale  did  not  show  any  signs  of  weak- 
ness. It  was  lively  and  hungry  as  ever,  and  soon  wTas  the 
only  captured  living  white  whale  in  America.  All  the 
others,  that  had  been  shipped  from  Labrador  to  Cincinnati* 
Chicago,  Rockaw^ay  and  New  York  were  dead. 

When  the  season  at  Coney  Island  closed,  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  Aquaria,  Chas.  Reiche  and  Bro.,  decided  to  ship 
this  animal,  that  had  lived  longer  and  was  more  vigorous 
than  any  of  the  rest,  to  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic.  On 
Sept.  15th,  it  was  brought  on  board  the  Bremen  Steamer, 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


II 


carefully  packed  in  the  same  manner  as  on  its  first  ship- 
ment and  under  care  of  Capt.  Zack.  Coup,  who  had  directed 
all  whaling  expeditions  of  the  Aquarium;  and  a  fortnight 
afterwards  all  prominent  papers  in  Europe  brought  the 
astonishing  news  of  the  arrival  of  a  living  white  whale  in 
England.  It  was  transported  to  the  Royal  Aquarium  in 
London,  where  it  expired  four  days  after  its  arrival. 


REPTILES. 

TURTLES. 

Reptiles  with  the  body  enclosed  between  two  large  shields,  one  on 
the  back,  the  dorsal  shield;  the  other  opposite,  the  ventral  shield.  Both 
shields  are  composed  of  many  small  plates,  which  either  overlap  each 
other,  like  the  scales  of  fishes,  or  meet  in  a  seam  or  suture.  Every  plate 
consists  of  an  outer  layer  of  horn  and  an  inner  layer  of  bone,  the  latter  of 
which  is  firmly  connected  with  the  spinal  column  and  the  ribs.  Turtles 
have  no  teeth,  but  their  jaws  are  encased  in  horny  sheaths,  usually  with 
sharp  cutting  edges. 

7.  THE  LEOPARD  TORTOISE.  (Testudo  partialis.) 
Several  large  and  heavy  specimens  of  these  were  brought 
by  the  collectors  of  Chas.  Reiche  and  Bro.  from  South 
Africa,  and  deposited  in  the  Aquarium.  They  are  objects  of 
curiosity  and  interest,  as  they  gently  and  harmlessly  move 
around  among  visitors.  They  feed  on  cabbage  and  other 
vegetables. 

8.  THE  COUI.  [Testudo  radiata.)  Smaller  than  the  preced- 
ing species  of  the  tortoise,  in  company  with  which  it  was 
imported  from  Africa.  It  walks  about  the  floor  of  the 
Aquarium,  and  is  admired  for  the  beauty  of  its  shell,  which 
is  hemispherical,  with  flat,  grooved,  yellow-rayed  shields. 
Length  six  to  twelve  inches.  Madagascar. 

9.  THE  SPOTTED  TORTOISE.  [Geodemys  guttata.} 
Shield  black  brown  with  round  yellow  spots.  This  is  a  small 
turtle,  not  exceeding  in  length  five  inches,  and  found  abun- 
dantly in  adjacent  streams  and  ponds.  On  warm  days  it  is 
seen  on  rocks  and  logs,  basking  in  the  sun,  suddenly  slip- 
ping into  the  water  on  the  approach  of  real,  or  supposed 
danger.  It  feeds  on  small  animals,  and  buries  itself  on  the 
approach  of  winter  in  the  mud  at  the  bottom  of  ponds. 


IS 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


10.  THE  PAINTED  TORTOISE.  (Ckrysemis  picta.) 
This  is  the  handsomest  of  the  fresh-water  tortoises  in  North 
America.  Its  shell  is  smooth,  with  yellowr  lines  along  the 
sutures  ;  its  head  has  yellow  lines  along  the  sides.  It  is  a 
timid,  inoffensive  animal  that  feeds  on  insects  and  small 
amphibians.  Length  fire  to  nine  inches.  Canada  to  Ver- 
ginia ;  in  ponds,  never  in  running  water. 

11.  THE  SALT-WATER  TERRAPIN.  (Malaclemis 
concentrica.)  Upper  shell  oval,  the  plates  with  numerous 
deeply  impressed  concentric  lines,  lower  shell  reddish  or 
orange,  with  irregular  hoops  or  rings  ;  head,  neck  and  legs 
dull  bluish  ash,  with  numerous  black  spots.  This  terrapin 
is  well  known  and  esteemed  for  its  savory  flesh.  Length 
five  to  seven  inches.    New  York  to  Florida. 

12.  THE  SNAPPING  TURTLE.  (Chelydra  serpentina.) 
As  the  name  indicates,  this  turtle  is  not  so  sluggish  and  pa- 
tient as  its  relatives,  but  on  the  contrary,  it  is  ferocious  and 
will  snap  at  almost  everything  wTithin  its  reach.  Its  neck  is 
long  and  very  flexile  ;  its  beak  has  a  hooked  upper  jawT  and 
sharp,  cutting  edges,  and  the  animal  is  enabled  to  move 
its  head  around  and  reach  almost  to  the  middle  of  its  back. 
It  feeds  on  frogs,  fishes  and  waterfowl.  Its  upper  shell  has 
three  strong  keels;  its  tail  a  central  series  of  compressed 
tubercles.    Length  two  to  four  feet.    United  States. 

13.  THE  MUSK  TORTOISE,  or  STINK-POT.  (Aroma 
chelys  odoratum.)  A  very  small  turtle  writh  a  brown  shell  and 
low  stripes  along  the  sides  of  the  head.  It  lives  in  the 
mud  of  ponds  and  ditches,  is  usually  coated  with  mud  and 
aquatic  plants,  and  emits  a  disagreeable  odor.  Length  two 
to  four  inches.    United  States. 

14.  THE  MUD  TORTOISE.  (Kinosternum  pennsylva- 
nici/m.)  Upper  shell  olive  brown  and  vaulted  ;  lower  shell 
yellow  or  orange  ;  jaws  hooked  ;  tail  wTith  a  horny  point. 
It  inhabits  ditches  and  muddy  ponds,  preys  on  fish,  and  has 
a  strong,  musky  smell.  Length  four  inches.  Canada  to 
Florida. 


NEW   VORK  AQUARIUM. 


13 


15.  THE  SOFT-SHELLED  TURTLE.  (PlatypelHs 
ferox.)  Shell  cartilaginous  on  its  margin,  dark  slate  colored 
and  spotted.  It  feeds  on  fish  and  small  amphibians,  and  is 
said  to  be  more  inclined  to  bite  than  other  species  of  turtles. 
Length  eight  to  ten  inches.    United  States. 

16.  THE  GREEN  TURTLE.  (Chelonia  viridis.)  Every- 
body is  familiar  with  the  grotesque  form  of  the  turtles,  and 
whoever  watches  a  land-tortoise  slowly  crawling  on  its 
elephantine  feet,  may  well  be  inclined  to  take  these 
animals  for  neglected  step-children  of  nature.  But  now 
look  at  the  turtle  in  its  fluid  element !  How  easily  does 
the  water  carry  its  ponderous  mass,  how  quickly  does  the 
animal  divide  the  dense  element,  and  how  suitably  does  the 
form  of  its  body  seem  to  be  adapted  to  the  movement  of 
swimming!  The  tortoise  of  the  land  and  the  turtle  of  the 
sea  are  very  dissimilar  brothers  indeed  ;  unlike  in  faculties 
and  habits,  in  mode  of  living,  and  in  mastering  or  utilizing 
the  surrounding  circumstances.  It  is  easy  to  comprehend 
that  the  slowly-moving  land  tortoise  can  get  its  living  only 
from  vegetation,  while  its  roving  relative  feeds  on  animals. 
The  former  are  scarce  and  of  large  size,  while  the  latter 
abound  in  rivers  and  seas,  and  occur  in  all  dimensions,  from 
the  size  of  a  dollar  up  to  the  bulk  of  five  hundred  weight. 
The  learned  naturalist  of  the  British  Museum,  John  Edward 
Gray,  knows  only  thirty  different  species  of  the  land  tor- 
toise, against  five  hundred  and  twenty  seven  of  those  that, 
are  found  in  rivers  and  seas. 

Nowhere  is  the  perfect  adaptation  of  the  form  of  the 
turtle  to  the  element  in  which  it  lives  better  understood 
than  in  an  aquarium.  The  large,  flat,  oar-like  forelegs, 
situated  just  at  the  heaviest  part  of  the  body  are  the  chief 
motors,  and  the  flat  body,  resembling  in  its  form  that  of 
water  beetles,  rays,  or  flat  fish,  glides  by  their  means  easily 
and  continuously  through  the  water. 

The  Green  Turtle  is  the  largest  and  best  known  of  all 
marine  turtles.  Its  length  is  from  two  to  five  feet,  and  its 
weight  from  a  hundred  to  a  thousand  pounds.  The  qualities 
of  its  meat  are  better  understood  and  appreciated  in  a 
restaurant  than  in  a  guide-book. 


14 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


CROCODILIA. 

17.  THE  ALLIGATOR.  (Alligator  mississippiensis)  This 
species  of  Crocodile  is  found  in  great  numbers  in  the  South- 
ern States.  When  full  grown  it  is  fifteen  feet  long,but  it  sel- 
dom reaches  this  length,because 
of  the  general  hostility  with 
which  it  is  pursued  and  killed. 

The  Alligator,  and  other 
Crocodiles,constitute  one  of  the 
most  peculiar  groups  of  ani- 
mals living.  They  are  one  of 
those  interesting  intermediate 
links  between  the  extinctgiants 
of  the  primitive  world  and  the 
present  creation.  They  also  ap- 
proach the  mammals  in  many 
parts  of  their  organization. 
Their  lungs  are  limited  to  the 
chest,  which  is  separated  from 
the  abdomen  by  an  imperfect 
diaphragm ;  the  chambers  of  the 
heart  are  divided  so  as  to  pre- 
vent the  mixture  of  the  two 
kinds  of  blood;  the  vertebrae  of 
the  neck  bear  ribs  making  the 
lateral  movement  of  this  part  of 
thebodynearly  impossible;  and 
the  development  of  their  eighty 
conical  teethis  unique.  Each  op- 
ens onits  interior  endand  close- 
ly fits  into  an  elongation  of  the 
jaw.  From  time  to  time  a  new 
tooth  grows  from  below  gradu- 
ally lifting  the  old  one,  which 
is  partly  absorbed,  the  remain- 
der being  thrown  off.  Pieces 
of  the  old  teeth  are  often  seen 
in  connection  with  the  new 
ones.  As  this  change  of  teeth 
continues  throughout  life,  the  opinion  of  the  ancients,  that 
the  Crocodile  had  as  many  teeth  as  there  are  days  in  the 
year,  is  still  short  of  the  truth. 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM.  15 


LIZARDS. 

18.  THE  HORNED  FROG.  (Phrynosoma  orbiculare.) 
This  animal  is  called  a  frog,  sometimes  a  toad,  and,  if  a 
learned  friend  is  near  by,  he  will  tell  us  that  even  their 
scientific  name,  phrynosoma,  means  "body  of  a  toad."  Yet 
even  this  designation  is  a  misnomer,  since  the  frog,  or  toad, 
never  has  scales  and  plates  like  this  animal.  It  is  only  the 
shape  of  its  body,  which  is  flat  and  broad  like  a  toad,  that 
gave  origin  to  its  name.    In  fact  it  is  a  lizard. 

Its  flat  body  is  covered  with  spines,  which  are  especially 
prominent  at  the  neck,  resembling  the  collar  worn  by  hounds 
in  Germany  when  hunting  wild  boars  and  wolves.  Proba- 
bly nature  had,  in  furnishing  to  the  frog  these  spines,  the 
same  design  as  man  has  in  giving  them  to  the  hounds, 
namely,  protection  from  the  teeth  of  their  enemies.  As  to  its 
habits  it  is  inactive,  lying  all  day  long  without  any  attempt 
to  move,  and  but  seldom  taking  food. 

19.  THE  GLASS  SNAKE,  STUMPFOOT  or  SHEL- 
TOPUSIK.  {Pseudopus  Pallasii.)  A  native  of  Dalmatia, 
Austria.  A  very  general  popular  fallacy  prevails  as  to  the 
true  nature  of  these  animals.  Their  snake-like  appearance 
and  locomotion  favor  this,  and  yet  they  present  several  es- 
sential differences  from  the  snake.  They  have  eyelids  like 
the  lizard,  the  snake  has  none;  their  teeth  are  not  hooked 
like  those  of  the  snake,  and  on  close  inspection  two  small 
feet  are  discernible  near  the  root  of  the  tail.  These  struc- 
tural peculiarities  place  them  more  among  lizards;  and  that 
assumption  is  greatly  strengthened  by  the  manner  in  which 
these  animals  feed.  They  eat  as  a  lizard  does,  and  after 
the  following  fashion  :  a  live  mouse  being  placed  in  the 
box,  it  is  caught  by  the  head,  and  its  body  is  pressed  against 
the  box  ;  its  tormentor  and  destroyer  meanwhile  revolves 
with  such  rapidity  as  to  benumb  or  stupefy  it,  and  twists  its 
body  like  a  piece  of  string.  The  prey  is  then  dropped,  but 
still  kept  in  view,  that  the  tormenting  and  destructive  pro- 
cess may  be  repeated  until  the  last  sign  of  life  has  disap- 
peared .  The  mouse,  now  dead,  is  eaten  as  it  would  be  by  any 
other  lizard  large  and  strong  enough  for  this  purpose. 


i6 


MEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


SALAMANDERS. 

20.  THE  BLACK  SALAMANDER.  (Desmognathus  ni- 
gra.) Uniformly  black,  sometimes  with  small  white  spots 
on  the  sides.  Tail  compressed  and  finned.  Length  four 
to  six  inches.  Shallow  waters  in  Pennsylvania  and  New 
York. 

21.  THE  RED  SALAMANDER.  (Spelerpes  ruber)  Ver- 
milion red,  with  numerous  dark  dots.  Usually  found 
under  stones  in  shallow  streams.  Length  four  to  six  in- 
ches.   Eastern  States. 

22.  THE  TIGER  SALAMANDER.  (Amblystoma  tigri- 
num.)  Brown,  with  many  yellow  spots;  body  thick  and 
strong,  head  long  and  narrow,  occasionally  it  is  found  in 
hollow  decayed  trees.  Length  six  to  eight  inches.  United 
States,  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

23.  THE  AXOLOTL.  (Stredon pisciformis)  A  most  inter- 
esting salamander,  a  native  of  Mexico,  about  nine  inches 
long,  with  a  broad  head  and  a  crested  tail.  It  has  three  ex- 
ternal gills  on  each  side  of  the  neck  which  separate  into  many 
branches  and  periodically  flap  backwards  and  forwards.  Its 
color  is  dark  brown.  The  specimens  on  view  in  the 
Aquarium  were  received  from  Europe. 

The  Axolotls  were  introduced  into  Europe  in  1864  by 
the  Jardin  d'  Acclimation.  Five  males  and  one  female  were 
placed  on  exhibition,  and  from  them  about  600  young  were 
raised.  After  seven  months,  when  nearly  full  grown,  some 
remarkable  changes  took  place  in  one  of  them.  The  large 
external  gills  disappeared  almost  entirely,  the  crest  on  the 
back  and  tail  passed  away,  the  head  became  narrower  and 
more  pointed,  and  light  spots  appeared  on  the  dark  body 
and  limbs.  Thus  nearly  the  same  changes  took  place  in 
this  animal  which  had  been  seen  a  number  of  times  in  the 
common  Tritons,  or  Salamanders  of  Europe  and  America. 
Some  weeks  later  a  few  more  underwent  the  same  transfor- 
mation, until  nine  of  them  had  assumed  the  ultimate  form. 
In  the  next  year  (1866)  five  specimens  out  of  a  thousand 
exhibited  the  same  extraordinary  development,  and  a  few 
more  were  observed  in  the  next  year. 

Thus  the  supposition  of  some  naturalists,  before  the  evi- 


NEW   YORK  AQUARIUM. 


»7 


dence  given  by  Dumeril  that  the  Axolotl  was  really  the 
larval  form  of  some  unknown  Salamander,  was  established. 
Cuvier,  long  before  1865,  made  the  following  remark  :  "I 
am  obliged  to  place  the  Axolotl  among  the  genera  with 
permanent  gills,  because  a  great  many  persons  testify  that 
it  does  not  lose  the  same  ;  "  and  Baird,  the  well-known 
leading  naturalist  of  this  country,  said  that  the  appearance 
of  the  Axolotl  was  so  very  larval  as  to  exclude  any  doubt 
of  its  real  nature,  it  being  no  evidence  against  this  assertion 
that  the  perfect  animal  had  not  yet  been  found. 

The  extraordinary  facts  in  the  natural  history  of  this 
animal  are  not  the  changes  already  described,  for  a  similar 
transformation  is  regularly  observed  in  a  great  many  other 
salamanders,  frogs  and  toads,  but  its  taking  place  in  such 
a  few  instances,  and,  chiefly,  its  power  of  reproduction  in 
the  larval  form,  an  attribut(  belonging  with  hardly  an 
exception  to  the  last  and  highest  form  of  animal  life. 


I  ■ 


24.  THE 
HELLBEN- 
DER. (Meno- 
poma  alleghan- 
iensis.)  This 
is  the  largest 
of  am  phi  b- 
ious  animals 
found  in 
the  United 
States.  It  is 
slate  colored, 
has  a  broad 
hea  d  with 
v  ery  small 
e  y  e  s,  a  de- 
pressed body 
lined  with  a 
prominent 
fo 1 d  at  its 
side,  and  a 
long,  broad, 

and  depressed  tail.  It  seldom  comes  to  the  surface  of  the 
water,  though  it  has  no  gills;  it  breathes  through  its  skin 
and  lungs.    Length  one  to  two  feet.    Eastern  States. 


IS 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM* 


PROTE ANS 


25.  THE  EUROPEAN  PROTEUS.  (Proteus  anguineu$$ 

This  animal  is  only  found 
in  subterranean  lakes  in 
Krain,  (Austria).  When 
first  received  their  eel-like 
bodies  were  of  a  yellow- 
ish-roseate color.  They 
manifested  an  extreme 
sensitiveness  to  light  and 
sought  concealment  from 
it  behind  the  rocks  as  sooa 
as  they  were  placed  in  the 
tank.  Their  graceful  form 
makes  them  especially  in- 
teresting to  visitors.  Their 
head  is  long  and  flat;  their 
legs  short  and  slender,  the 
fore-feet  ending  in  three, 
and  the  hind-feet  in  two 
toes,  without  nails  or 
claws.  Like  the  Axolotls, 
theyhaveexternalgillsofa 
bright  red  color.  Their 
eyes  are  extremely  small, 
and  entirely  concealed  be- 
neath the  skin,  so  that  it 
is  impossible  for  them  to 
get  distinct  impressions 
of  form  by  sight.  Yet  they 
are  affected  by  the  light, 
and  very  probably  their 
whole  skin  is  sensitive  to 
its  delicate  touch.  This 
seems  to  follow,  firstly, 
from  their  constant 
anxiety  to  get  out  of  the 
light  and  remain  in  per- 
fectdarkness;  and,  second- 
ly, from  the  fact  of  the 
light  colored  skin  changing  to  Mack  when  exposed  todays 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


'9 


light  In  about  three  months  this  change  is  accomplished 
At  first  some  dark  spots  make  their  appearance,  and  finally 
a  bluish  black  color  covers  the  entire  body,  except  the  belly 
and  the  under  side  of  the  compressed  tail. 

In  some  Aquaria  animals  of  this  species  have  been  kept 
for  more  than  two  years  without  taking  food.  Dr.  Metten- 
heimer  killed  two  Proteus  which  he  had  kept  entirely  with- 
out food  for  two  years  and  two  months,  and  it  surprised  him 
to  find  in  the  stomach  of  one  of  them  two  living  intestinal 
worms.  The  specimens  in  the  Aquarium  do  not  show  any 
such  abstemiousness.  They  devour  earthworms  and  other 
food  with  avidity,  displaying  their  greatest  activity,  however, 
when  water  insects  and  small  Crustacea,  such  as  Gammarus 
and  Daphnia,  are  placed  in  the  tank.  Then  they  cross  the 
tank  in  every  direction,  snapping  and  catching  the  insects 
without  once  being  impeded  in  their  rapid  progress.  It 
appears  that  only  when  these  insects  are  moving,  the  Pro- 
teus become  sensible  of  their  presence. 

26.  THE  MUD  PUPPY,  or  PROTEUS.  (Meiwbran- 
chus lateralis?)  Like  the  Austrian  Proteus,  it  has  external 
g  i  11 S  which 
are  persis- 
tent during 
1  i  fe  .  It  is 
brown,  more 
or  less  spot- 
ted. Its  head 
is  broad  and 
dep  res  sed, 
the  tail  high 
and  c  o  m- 
pressed.  I t 
feeds  on 
crustaceans, 
shells,  and 
fishes. 
Length  one 
to  two  feet. 
E  a  stern 
States. 


20 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM, 


FISHES. 

SUB-CLASS— TELEOSTEI. 
Order — A  canth  ropterygii.  F  a  m  . — Gasterosteida, 

27.  THE  COMMON  STICKLEBACK.  (Gasterosteus 
aeuleatus.)  This  little  lively  fish  is  very  interesting  in  the 
care  of  its  eggs  and  brood.  The  male  fish  builds  a  round 
nest  with  waterplants  and,  after  the  female  has  deposited 
the  eggs,  is  constantly  close  by,  moving  the  pectoral  fins 
in  such  a  way  as  to  drive  a  current  of  water  through  the 
nest.  Sometimes  the  female,  or  other  Sticklebacks,  try  to 
interrupt  him,  to  enter  the  nest,  and  to  devour  the  eggs, 
but  the  watchful  and  courageous  male  maintains  a  success- 
ful fight  and  keeps  them  at  a  safe  distance  from  his  charge. 
During  the  time  of  incubation  it  feeds  very  little,  and  yet 
is  more  lively  and  more  brightly  colored  than  at  any  other 
time.  If  the  young  ones  fall  out  of  the  nest,  the  male  takes 
them  into  his  mouth  and  returns  them. 

28.  THE  TWO-SPINED  STICKLEBACK.  {Gasteros- 
teus biaculeatus.)  Blackish,  two  large  spines  in  front  of  the 
dorsal  fin;  the  ventral  spine  with  a  spinous  process  at  the 
base.  " 

29.  THE  NEW  YORK  STICKLEBACK.  (Gasteros- 
teus noveboracensis.)  The  sides  of  the  body  and  tail  are  entire- 
ly covered  with  a  series  of  scaly  plates.  The  ventral  spine 
is  very  long. 


Fam. — Berycidai. 

30.  THE  SQUIRREL.  (Holocentrum  sogko)  This  is  a 
very  handsome  fish  with  an  elegant  shape,  and  a  reddish 
color  that  exceeds  in  brightness  and  splendor  even  that  of 
the  Goldfish.  Its  body  is  elongated  and  slightly  com- 
pressed;its  head  is  well  proportioned,  with  prominent  spines 
at  the  operculum;  its  fins  are  large  and  have  beautiful  out- 
lines. It  swims  quickly  and  vivaciously.  G.  Brown  Goode, 
the  author  of  several  works  on  Bermuda  fishes,  calls  it  one 
of  the  most  conspicuous  of  the  denizens  of  the  rock  pools  in 


NEW   YORK  AQUARIUM. 


2  I 


the  Bermuda  Islands.  Their  voracity,  he  says,  is  very  great, 
and  the  tyro  in  angling  usually  finds  his  first  prize  to  be  a 
Squirrel.  The  local  name  refers  to  a  grunting  noise  ut- 
tered by  them,  which  resembles  the  bark  of  a  squirrel. 


Fam. — Pcrcidu'. 

31.  THE  YELLOW  PERCH.  [Perca  flavescens.)  Olive, 
sides  yellowish  with  broad  dark  bars.  This  fish  is  the  type 
or  representative  of  the  Percidae  or  Perch  family.  It  is 
very  voracious,  lively  and  strong,  and  will  bite  at  almost 
any  kind  of  bait.  It  differs  very  little  from  the  European 
Perch,  having  a  brighter  hue  and  being  a  trifle  less  in  height. 
Owners  of  Trout  tanks  are  anxious  to  keep  the  Perch  clear 
of  them,  as  they  destroy  the  Trout  in  great  quantities. 
Fresh  waters,  United  States,  chiefly  northward  and  east- 
ward. 

32.  THE  STRIPED  BASS.  (Roceus  lineatus.,  A  fish  of 
the  Perch  family,  equally  prominent  for  its  beautiful  shape 
and  color,  and  its  gamey  character  and  savory  meat.  It  is 
bluish  black,  silvery  on  its  sides  and  beneath.  Along  each 
side  are  from  seven  to  nine  black  parallel  stripes.  "This 
fish,"  says  Gen io  C.  Scott,  "the  fish  of  fishes,  par  excellence, 
affords  good  sport  with  light  tackle  when  its  weight  is  but 
half  a  pound  ;  and  it  tries  both  the  metal  and  skill  of  an 
angler  after  it  rises  to  the  ponderous  importance  of  ten 
pounds,  though  it  is  said  to  attain  to  the  weight  of  nearly 
a  hundred.  For  muscular  power  the  striped  bass  equals  the 
salmon,  but  it  lacks  the  caudal  power  for  leaping,  which  is 
so  palpable  in  the  form  of  a  salmon." 

The  striped  bass  is  not  given  to  wandering  or  vagrancy, 
but  is  always  found  near  the  tidal  waters  of  the  rivers  be- 
tween Portland  and  Norfolk.  In  November  it  shoals  and 
congregates  in  brackish  waters,  where  also  its  eggs  are  de- 
posited. It  has  successfully  been  confined  to  fresh  water, 
though  deteriorated  in  form  and  lustre. 

33.  THE  WALL-EYED  PIKE,  or  YELLOW  PIKE 
PERCH.  (Lucioperca  americamz.)  A  large,  handsome  and 
savory  fish,  the  form  of  which  somewhat  resembles  that  of 


23 


YORK  AQUARIUM. 


9  pike  though  it  is  a  true  perch.  It  is  yellowish  grey  with 
numerous  dark  spots ;  its  eye  is  very  large  and  prominent. 
Length  twelve  to  eighteen  inches;  weight  up  to  fifteen 
pounds  and  over.    Great  lakes  and  western  rivers. 

34.  THE  BLACK  SEA  BASS.  (CentroprisHs  atrarius.) 
This  favorite  fish  is  found  along  the  Eastern  coast  of  North 
America,  from  Cape  Cod  to  Florida.  It  comes  to  us  in  the 
-beginning  of  May,  and  remains  through  the  summer.  It 
is  a  strong,  heavily  built  fish,  of  a  blueish,  sometimes  a 
greenish,  black  color,  with  large  scales,  the  deeper  colored 
edges  of  which  give  a  regularly  reticulated  appearance  to 
the  whole  surface  of  the  body,  and  a  wide,  leathery  mouth, 
easily  hooked  and  tenacious  to  hold. 

It  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  savory  and  delicate 
fishes  of  the  season,  particularly  excellent  for  chowder. 
Its  meat  laminates  in  compact  flakes,  and  is  more  succulent 
and  delicate  in  taste  than  that  of  the  Cod.  "The  Sea  Bass, 
Porgee,  and  Tautog  banks,  along  the  coast  of  New  Jersey," 
says  Genio  C.  Scott,  "form  one  of  the  attractions  of 
Long  Branch,  and  they  are  a  real  blessing  to  the  members 
of  the  hand-line  committee,  who  realize  in  them  a  cheap 
relaxation  from  business  and  the  lassitude  caused  by  too 
constant  work  in  a  city  during  the  heat  of  summer." 

35.  THE  HAMLET  OR  GROUPER.  (Epinephelis 
striatus.)  A  remarkable  characteristic  of  this  fish  is  its  abi- 
lity to  suddenly  change  its  colors.  Generally  it  is  light  slate- 
colored,  with  many  broad  cross-bands  and  some  black 
spots  around  the  eye,  but  when  touched  or  frightened,  it 
quickly  assumes  a  darker  hue,  from  gray  to  dark  chestnut. 
It  is  a  very  common  fish  in  Bermuda;  is  caught  there  in 
great  quantities,  kept  in  artificial  ponds  along  the  shore, 
and  fed  on  fish  and  lobsters. 

*'  The  Devil's  Hole,"  says  G.  Brown  Goode,  "  is  a  large 
natural  pool  near  the  centre  of  the  main  island.  Here  a 
large  number  of  Groupers  may  usually  be  found  con- 
fined, and  the  place  is  much  visited  by  strangers.  At  feed- 
ing time,  when  one  looks  into  the  clear  waters  of  the  pool 
nothing  can  be  seen  but  an  array  of  open  mouths.  When 
the  food  is  thrown  in,  a  scene  of  indescribable  commotion 
and  splashing  occurs.  They  are  very  fierce,and  rush  savagely 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


> 

23 


at  anything  which  looks  eatable.  I  have  seen  two  large 
ones/each  four  feet  in  length,  seize  the  opposite  ends  of  a 
cuttle-fish  arm,  tugging  for  several  minutes  at  the  tough 
morsel  before  the  question  of  ownership  could  be  decided." 

The  young  fish  are  called  Hamlets,  but,  after  reaching  a 
length  of  eighteen  or  twenty  inches,  are  known  as 
Groupers,  which  is  a  corruption  of  the  Portugese  Garoupa, 
the  name  of  a  similar  fish  found  at  Madeira. 

36.  THE  HIND.  (Epinephelis  guttatus.)  A  very  hand- 
some fish,  common  in  Bermuda,  where  specimens  two  feet 
in  length  are  often  met  with  in  the  markets.  It  is  brown- 
ish or  rosy-white,  with  numerous  small  circular  spots  of 
deep  rose  color,  which  are  probably  the  origin  of  its  popu- 
lar name.  When  kept  long  in  a  tank  with  plenty  of  light, 
its  color  fades.  It  is  also  recorded  that  specimens  from 
the  "White  Water,"  where  there  is  a  bottom  of  white  sand, 
are  nearly  white,  while  others  have  a  dusky  reddish-brown 
color. 

37.  THE  ROCK  FISH.  (Trisotropis  undid 0 sis)  A  large 
fish,  attaining  a  length  of  five  feet,  and  known  as  one  of 
the  choicest  table-fishes  in  Bermuda.  Its  color  is  brown, 
mottled  with  large  irregular  spots  and  lines  of  brownish- 
violet.  The  Hamlet,  Hind  and  Rock  Fish  belong  to  a 
group  of  fishes  which  arc  normally  hermaphrodite,  each 
fish  after  maturity  carrying  milk  and  roe  at  the  same  time. 

38.  THE  YELLOW-TAIL.  (Oxyurus  chtysurus.)  A  small 
fish  with  large  fins.  It  is  greenish  olive,  with  oblique 
streaks  above  the  lateral  line  and  some  shining  golden 
bands  along  the  sides.    Bermuda  Islands. 

39.  THE  GRAY  SNAPPER.  (Lutjanus  caxis.)  This  is 
a  very  common  fish  in  Bermuda,  with  a  low,  elongated, 
dark  grey  body.  It  is  cunning  and  dexterous,  and  has, 
from  its  ability  to  avoid  all  contrivances  for  catching  it, 
gained  the  nick-name  of  "  Sea  Lawyer."  It  attains  a 
length  of  four  feet,  and  is  said  to  be  one  of  the  most 
delicious  of  food-fishes. 

40.  THE  FRESH  WATER  BASS.  (Centrarckus  ceneus.) 
A  handsome   and  savory  fish  found  abundantly  in  the 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


great  lakes  and  in  the  larger  streams  in  the  western  coun- 
ties of  New  York  State.  It  is  greyish  brown,  and  each 
scale  has  a  dark  centre.  The  anal  fin  has  five  or  six 
strong  spines. 

41.  THE  BLACK  FRESH  WATER  BASS.  {Centra?- 
chus fasciatus.)  A  fish  twelve  to  fifteen  inches  long  and 
common  in  the  great  lakes.  It  is  of  a  dusky  blue  or 
green  color,  often  with  transverse  bands  and  conspicuous 
dark  spots  at  the  fins.  The  soft  part  of  the  dorsal  fin  is 
covered  with  scales  at  the  base.  The  anal  fin  has  but  three 
spines. 

42.  THE  SUNFISH.  {Pomotis  auritus.)  A  common  but 
beautiful  little  fish  that  derives  its  proud  name  from  its 
glittering  colors.  It  is  greenish  olive  with  numerous  red 
or  orange  spots ;  the  operculum  (gill  cover)  has  a  rounded, 
membranaceous,  bright  scarlet  lobe  above  the  angle.  Great 
lakes  and  eastern  rivers. 


V  a  m  . — Pristipomatidce* 

43.  THE  YELLOW  GRUNT.  (Hamilton  xanthoptcrum.) 
We  have  received  a  great  number  of  different  kinds  of 
Grunts  from  the  Bermuda  Islands,  where  they  are  quite 
common  and  plentiful.  They  have  an  oblong,  compressed 
body,  a  horizontal,  wide  mouth,  blood-red  inside,  the  usual 
number  of  fins,  and  a  differently,  but  always  handsomely 
colored  body.  The  Yellow  Grunt  is  easily  recognized  by 
its  color.    Its  length  is  from  six  to  twelve  inches. 

44.  THE  WHITE  GRUNT,  (Hamilton  quadrilineatum) 
Light  colored,  with  two  brown  and  two  broad  golden  bands 
along  each  side  of  the  body.  It  is  found  in  schools  in  the 
Bermuda  Islands. 

45.  THE  BLUE-STREAKED  GRUNT.  (Hamilton  ele- 
gans.)  A  beautiful  fish,  with  many  waving,  light-blue,  hori- 
zontal bands,  edged  brownish.    Bermuda  Islands. 

46.  THE  MARGATE  FISH.  (Hamilton  chrysopterum) 
This  fish  is  nearly  allied  to  the  Grunts,  but  differs  from 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


25 


them  by  being  larger  in  size  and  by  its  faculty  to  change 
color.  Generally  it  is  of  a  beautiful  pearly-white,  with 
two  or  three  faint  stripes  along  the  body,  but  sometimes  it 
suddenly  assumes  a  darker  hue,  the  stripes  becoming  almost 
black.  Its  length  is  from  nine  to  eighteen  inches.  Bermuda 
Islands. 

47.  THE    BLACK    TRIPLE-TAIL   or  FLASHER. 

{Lobotes  surinamensis.)  A  high  bodied,  strong  fish.  It  is  a 
foot  or  more  in  length,  and  is  of  a  rusty  blackish 
color.  The  anal  fin  and  the  soft  part  of  the  dor- 
sal fin,  are  of  equal  development,  both  reaching  to  about 
the  middle  of  the  caudal  and  producing  the  appearance  of  a 
triple-tailed  fish.  It  is  rare  on  our  coast,  but  is  found  in 
great  numbers  in  theCarribean  Sea,  the  Indian  Ocean  and 
the  Chinese  Seas. 


F  AM . — Sparidct. 

48.  THE  SILVER  BREAM.  (Sqrgus  argenteus)  The 
color  of  this  fish  is  a  very  brilliant  silvery  white,  interrupted 
only  by  a  black  band  across  the  back  of  the  tail.  Its  body 
is  high  and  compressed  ;  the  profile  of  its  head  is  plajn  and 
oblique  so  as  to  form  a  pointed  mouth.  Its  length  is  from 
six  to  twelve  inches.    It  is  common  in  Bermuda. 

49.  THE  SHEEPSHEAD.  (Archosargus  probatocephaius) 
A  big,  clumsy  fish  with  about  a  dozen  large,  bare  teeth, 
and  five  conspicuous  blackish  cross  bands.  The  appear- 
ance of  its  mouth  and  teeth,  the  profile  of  its  head,  curved 
nose  and  forehead  are  sheep-like,  whence  the  name.  They 
are  found  in  our  waters  during  summer,  when  they  are 
eagerly  looked  after  as  a  delicacy.  They  return  to  the 
South  in  the  fall.  Length  ten  to  twenty  inches.  Cape 
Cod  to  Florida. 

50.  THE  RHOMBOIDAL  PORGEE  or  SARGO.  {La- 
godon  rho7nboidcs)  Similar  to  the  preceding,  but  smaller 
and  more  graceful.  It  has  five  dusky  cross  bars,  like  the 
Sheepshead,  longitudinal  stripes  above  the  lateral  line,  and 
a  black  blotch  at  the  origin  of  it.  Length  three  to  five 
inches.    Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


51.  THE  BIG  PORGEE.  (Stenotomus  argyrops)  A  bril- 
liantly shining  fish  with  a  high  compressed  body,  convex 
above.  There  are  four  to  six  strong  conical  canine-like 
teeth  in  the  outer  series  of  teeth  of  both  jaws.  This  fish  was 
formerly  abundant  in  our  waters  during  the  summer  sea- 
son, and  was  brought  in  large  quantities  to  the  markets, 
where  it  commanded  a  high  price.  It  has  become  scarce 
now.    Length  six  to  twelve  inches.    Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 


Fam. — Squamipinnes. 

52.  THE  FOUR -EYED  FISH.  (Sarothrodus  bimacuiatus.) 
This  is  a  very  graceful  and  delicate  fish,  with  a  nearly  cir- 
cular outline,  and  a  protruding  and  pointed  snout.  Its 
body  is  pearly-grey;  the  vertical  fins  are  bright  yellow;  a 
black  band  runs  across  the  eye.  Its  name  has  reference  to 
a  black  eye-like  spot  on  each  side  of  the  tail,  which  the 
fishermen  believe  to  be  a  true  eye.  Brown  Goode  states 
that  it  is  usually  seen  in  sheltered  coves,  lazily  swimming 
a  few  feet  below  the  surface,  under  the  shadow  of  some 
high  rock.  Its  length  seldom  exceeds  four  inches.  Ber- 
muda Islands. 

53.  THE  ANGEL  FISH.  (Holacanthus  ciliaris.)  This  is 
a  common  fish  in  the  West  Indies  and  the  Bermuda  Islands, 
and  is  easily  procured  during  summer;  yet  none  more 
beautiful  has  ever  been  placed  in  our  tanks  and  none  that 
was  regarded  with  as  much  pleasure  and  enthusiasm.  It 
is  one  of  those  tropical  creatures  which  nature  seems  to 
have  endowed  with  a  bountiful  hand,  and  that  awakens 
feelings  of  admiration. 

No  description  can  give  an  adequate  idea  of  the  grace 
and  beauty  of  this  fish.  It  must  be  seen  to  be  appreciated. 
Its  body  is  short  and  high;  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins  are 
very^large,  protruding  at  their  anterior  parts,  thick  at  their 
baseband  covered  with  scales,  so  that  they  seem  to  be  a 
continuation  of  the  body.  The  scales  are  large,  delicate 
brown  with  a  shade  of  olive-green,  and  each  of  them  is 
edged  with  a  lighter  tint.  The  chin,  nape,  upper  eye-lid, 
base  of  the  pectoral  and  ventral  fins,  and  the  margin  of 
the  dorsal  and  anal  fins  are  bright  cobalt-blue,  with  lines 


NEW   YORK  AQUARIUM. 


27 


of  the  same  color  extending  over  the  operculum.  The 
caudal  fin  and  the  continuation  or  appendages  of  the 
longest  spines  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins  are  bright  yellow. 

The  motions  of  the  Angel  Fish  are  slow.  It  is  seen  in 
the  sheltered  parts  of  the  coral  reefs  of  the  Bermuda 
Islands,  lazily  and  gracefully  swimming  or  floating  a  few 
feet  below  the  surface.  It  feeds  principally  on  coral - 
polyps.  It  attains  a  weight  of  four  pounds,  and  is  con- 
sidered the  best  flavored  fish  in  Bermuda. 

54.  THE  BROWN  ANGEL  FISH.  {Holacanthus  tri- 
color?) We  have  received  several  specimens  of  this  equally 
handsome  and  graceful  fish  from  Florida.  Its  form  and 
habits  resemble  those  of  the  preceding  species;  its  color 
is  mainly  dark  brown,  each  scale  being  edged  with  a 
lighter  color  ;  the  head  and  some  markings  are  yellow. 
Its  length  is  from  six  to  fifteen  inches. 

55.  THE  BLUE-STRIPED  ANGEL  FISH.  {Holacan- 
thus formosus.)  This  is  a  small,  dark-colored  species,  orna- 
mented by  four  blue  transverse  bands  over  the  body  and  a 
blackish  ocular  band,  edged  with  blue.  We  had  several 
specimens  of  this  fish  brought  from  Florida. 

56.  THE  MOON  FISH  or  THREE-TAILED  PORGEE. 
{Parephippus  faber.)  The  body  of  this  fish  is  much  com- 
pressed and  elevated  and  has  six  dark  vertical  bands;  the 
third  dorsal  spine  is  elongated,  and  the  anterior  portion  of 
the  dorsal  and  anal  fins  is  protruding.  It  is  a  large  and  re- 
markable looking  fish,  of  from  five  to  eighteen  inches.  It  is 
occasionally  found  in  great  numbers  in  our  vicinity 
during  the  summer.     Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 


Fa.m. —  Triglidce. 

57.  THE  SEA-RAVEN  or  YELLOW  SCULPIN.  (He- 
mitripterus  acadianus.)  It  is  very  difficult  to  give  an  exact 
idea  of  what  a  sea- raven  is.  If  we  say,  it  is  the  most  ugly,  fan- 
tastically comical,  or  funny-looking  fish  we  ever  saw,  the 
description  would  not  be  understood,  and  if  we  would  give 
the  minutest  details  in  an  elaborate  description,  it  would 
not  be  read.  It  must  be  seen  alive  in  water  to  be  appreciated. 


28 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


Fishermen  have  a  great  aversion  to  it  and  regard  its 
presence  in  their  nets  with  a  feeling  little  short  of  abhorrent 
disgust;  some  are  even  afraid  to  touch  it,  believing  it  to  be 
poisonous,  and  yet  it  is  an  object  of  great  curiosity  to 
visitors. 

The  body  of  this  remarkable  fish  is  covered  with  appen- 
dages, the  form  of  which  is  very  variable.  The  color  of 
some  specimens  is  brown  with  darker  spots,  that  of  others, 
mottled  like  marble,  or  red,  or  bright  lemon  with  white 
spots.  There  are  no  scales  in  its  skin,  so  that  when  you 
touch  or  handle  it,  it  feels  like  a  soft,  slippery,  quivering 
mass  of  jelly-like  substance.  The  sea-raven  is  often  found 
in  the  vicinity  of  New  York,  but  it  is  more  abundant  fur- 
ther north. 

58.  THE  NORTHERN  SCULPIN.  (Cettus grcenlandhus.) 
A  fish  full  of  spines  but  without  any  scales.  If  attacked  it 
spreads  all  the  spines  so  that  no  animal  can  touch  it  with- 
out hurting  itself.  This  species  generally  has  circular  white 
spots  on  the  abdomen.     Polar  Regions  to  Cape  Hatteras. 

59.  THE  SLENDER  SCULPIN.  (Coitus  octodecim-spino- 
sus.)  When  taken  from  the  water  this  fish  spreads  its  head 
to  twice  its  usual  size  by  the  distension  of  the  branchial 
membrane,  and  presents  rather  a  formidable  appearance. 
The  spine  on  the  pre-opercle  reaches  the  point  of  the  opercle. 
Nova  Scotia  to  Cape  Hatteras. 

60.  THE  SMOOTH-BROWED  BULL-HEAD.  (Coitus, 
mitchilli.)  The  most  common  of  this  genus  in  the  vicinity 
of  New  York.  It  is  of  a  yellowish  color,  with  confluent 
bars  and  blotches  over  the  body;  all  the  fins  with  inter- 
rupted black  bars. 

61.  THE  BANDED  GURNARD  OR  SEA-ROBIN. 
(Prionotus  lineatus.)  A  rather  queer  looking  fish,  with 
many  spines  and  very  large  pectoral  fins.  C  In  front  of 
these  fins  there  are  three  filaments  or  fingers,  which  can 
be  moved  separately  and  are  used  as  feelers  when  it 
crawls  over  the  bottom.  It  is  a  bottom-feeder,  and  not 
only  devours  various  kinds  of  crustaceans  but  takes  the  bait 
off  the  hook  of  fishing  lines,  carefully  avoiding  the  sharp 
steel  points.    Cape  Hatteras  to  Florida. 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


29 


62.  THE  WEB-FINGERED  GURNARD.  (Prionotus 
carolinus.)  This  is  a  larger  and  scarcer  species  than  the 
preceding  one.  It  is  of  a  brown  hue,  clouded  with  a  still 
darker  color.  The  first  dorsal  fin  has  a  black  spot  ;  the 
second  is  marked  with  oblique  whitish  streaks.  Cape  Cod 
to  Florida. 

63.  THE  FLYING  ROBIN.  (Daciylopterus  volitam) 
The  pectoral  fins  of  this  queer  looking  fish  are  so  largely 
developed  that  it  is  enabled  to  leap  above  water  and  soar 
after  the  manner  of  a  bird,  sometimes  as  far  as  two  or  three 
hundred  feet.  It  is  a  handsome  fish,  but  so  curiously- 
shaped  as  to  make  a  description  of  it  difficult  of  compre- 
hension. Length  about  six  inches.  Newfoundland  to 
Florida. 


•  F  a  Ms — ScicEnidcp. 

64.  THE  BIG  DRUM.  (Pogonias  chromts.)  A  heavily 
built  fish  attaining  to  a  large  size  and  a  weight  up  to 
eighty  pounds.  It  is  easily  recognized  by  having  about 
twenty  cirri  or  beards  beneath  the  lower  jaw.  It  is  found 
in  our  waters  during  summer,  and  feeds  on  mussels,  clams 
and  oysters,  varying  this  food  with  crustaceans.  In  winter  it 
is  found  in  the  South.  The  name  is  derived  from  a  noise 
it  produces  resembling  the  distant  sound  of  drums,  prob- 
ably caused  by  the  strong  compression  of  the  expanded 
pharyngeal  teeth  upon  each  other,  when  they  crush  and 
grind  the  oystershells.  The  young  of  this  fish  are 
described  as — 

THE  BANDED  DRUM.  (Pogonias  fasciatus.)  They  re- 
semble the  old  ones  except  in  their  color.  Their  surface 
shines  silvery,  and  there  are  four  to  five  blackish  vertical 
bands  extending  down  the  sides. 

65.  THE  KING  FISH.  {Menticirrus  neOulosis.)  .A 
handsome  fish,  with  seven  oblique  dusky  bands  descending 
from  the  back  to  below  the  lateral  line,  and  a  short  barbel 
at  the  chin.  It  often  lies  on  its  side  to  rest,  appearing  to 
visitors  as  if  sick  or  dead.    It  got  its  high-sounding  name 


3° 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


from  the  early  English  colonists,  to  designate  the  high 
esteem  in  which  it  was  held  as  an  article  of  food.  Cape 
Hatteras  to  Florida. 

66.  THE  LAFAYETTE  FISH.  (Liostomus  obliquus.)  A 
handsome  fish,  with  fourteen  to  eighteen  transverse,  oblique 
bands  over  the  back.  Color  whitish,  shining  purplish  and 
silvery  wThen  the  sun  strikes  it.  The  front  of  its  head  is 
nearly  perpendicular.  This  fish  happened  to  be  in  the 
vicinity  of  New  York  in  almost  incredible  numbers  in  the 
summer  of  1824,  when  "the  great  and  good  La  Fayette" 
arrived  in  this  city,  and  thus  his  name  was  unanimously 
given  to  the  fish  which  was  then  considered  entirely  new. 
Since  that  time  the  Lafayette  Fish  is  a  permanent  resident  in 
our  waters,  but  seldom  in  great  numbers.  Its  length  is  from 
six  to  ten  inches.    Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 

67.  THE  RED  or  SPOTTED  BASS.  (Sctanops  ocella- 
tus.)  A  beautiful,  well  flavored  fish  with  a  low  body.  There 
are  one  or  two  conspicuous  black  spots  at  the  root  of  the 
caudal  fin.  It  is  bluish  above ;  the  head,  cheeks  and  shoulders 
are  golden,  with  metallic  reflections.  Length  one  to  three 
feet.    Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 

68.  THE  WEAK  FISH,  or  SQUETEAGUE.  (Cynoscion 
regalis.)  A  fish  with  a  long,  slender  body,  bluish  above, 
with  darker  oblique  streaks,  following  the  transverse  series 
of  scales.  It  visits  our  coast  during  the  spawning  season, 
which  lasts  from  'April  to  November.  The  best  time  to 
catch  this  fish  is  from  June  to  October  when  the  shad  begin 
to  disappear.  The  meat  of  small  weak-fish  is  white  and 
rather  mealy  ;  while  of  those  weighing  about  ten  pounds 
it  is  as  flaky  as  that  of  a  salmon. 


F  a  M. — Scombrida. 

69.  THE  PILOT  FISH.  (Naucrates  doctor)  This  is  a 
well  known  fish  to  mariners.  It  generally  accompanies 
the  shark,  and  receives  its  name  from  the  supposition  that 
it  io  their  leader.  Probably  it  feeds  on  the  matter  execreted 
and  rejected  by  the  shark.    Its  body  is  oblong  and  bluish 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


31 


with  five  to  seven  dark  vertical  bands,  and  a  keel  on  each 
side  of  the  tail.  Its  length  is  from  six  to  eighteen  inches. 
It  is  found  in  all  the  seas  of  the  temperate  and  tropical 
regions. 

70.  THE  SUCKER  FISH  or  WHITE  -  TAILED- 
REMORA.  {Leptecheneis  naucrates.)  The  most  remarkable 
peculiarity  of  this  fish  is  the  flattened  disk  on  the  upper 
part  of  the  head,  into  which  the  first  dorsal  fin  is  trans- 
formed. By  means  of  this  disk,  which  is  composed  of 
numerous  transverse,  cartilaginous,  movable  plates,  the 
Sucker  fastens  itself  to  the  bottom  of  ships  or  to  the  belly 
of  fishes,  such  as  large  sharks.  This  serves  the  double 
purpose  of  enabling  it  to  travel  to  great  distances,  and  to 
get  its  nourishment  from  larger  and  stronger  animals  than 
itself.  This  will  account  for  its  location  at  points  so 
remote  from  each  other  as  China,  Australia,  and  our  own 
coast,  which  it  could  not  reach  except  by  adhering  to 
ships.  The  ancient  Romans,  to  whom  this  fish  was  well 
known,  believed  that  a  ship,  to  which  a  Sucker  fastened 
itself,  was  unable  to  be  moved.  Its  length  is  from  twelve 
to  eighteen  inches. 

71.  THE  HARVEST  or  DOLLAR  FISH.  (Poro- 
notus  triacanthus.)  A  gorgeously  colored  fish.  Its  sides 
are  resplendent  with  brilliant  metallic  green,  blue  and 
golden  hues.  The  body  is  much  Gompressed  and  elevated; 
the  dorsal  and  anal  fins  are  low  and  long,  and  of  equal 
development.  It  is  similar  in  size  and  form  to  the  horse- 
fish  (No.  75),  which  it  resembles  in  its  dancing  motion;  the 
dorsal  outline  is  equally  rounded  in  its  entire  length,  but 
it  has  no  ventral  fins  like  the  horse-fish.  Maine  to  Hat- 
teras. 


F  a  m  .  — Carangidce. 

72.  THE  HORSE  CREVALLE.  (Carangus  hippos)  A 
beautiful  and  gorgeously  colored  fish  with  a  much  com- 
pressed and  nearly  elliptical  body.  The  lateral  line  is 
armed  on  its  posterior  part  with  bony  plates.  Length  six 
to  nine  inches.    Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 

73.  THE  YELLOW  MACKEREL.  (Carangus  chrysos. 
Similar  to  the  former,  but  the  body  is  lower,  more  elon- 


NEW    v'jhk  AQUARIUM. 


gated,  and  the  yellow  color  extends  farther.  Both  fishes 
appear  in  our  watc  i  s  in  A  ugust,  and  leave  about  the  begin 
ning  of  October.  In  confinement  they  are  very  delicate, 
and  die  when  frightened.  Length  six  to  nine  inches 
Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 

74.  THE  THREAD  FISH  or  LONG  ISLAND 
ANGEL  FISH.  (Blepharichthys  crinitus.)  The  beauty  oi 
this  little  fish  exceeds  even  that  of  the  tropical  fishes.  Its 
body,  which  is  not  over  six  inches  in  length,  has  an  almost 
circular  outline,  and  is  covered  with  a  delicate  skin,  shining 
with  the  colors  of  mother-of-pearl  The  pectorals  and  the 
anal  fin  are  elegantly  shaped  and  of  a  silk-like  appear- 
ance. But  the  most  remarkable  feature  of  this  fish  is  the 
long,  silk-like  threads,  the  continuation  of  the  spines  of 
the  dorsal  and  anal  fins.  These  surpass  the  length  of  the 
body  three  to  four  times.  The  movements  of  this  tender 
fish  are  very  interesting.  It  keeps  afloat  near  the  centre 
of  its  tank,  and  moves  carefully  around  so  as  not  to  hurt 
its  long,  floating  threads.  It  is  scarce  in  our  waters,  but  is 
found  during  August  and  September  on  the  Long  Island 
coast.  Later  in  the  season  it  returns  to  the  Caribbean 
Sea.  The  French  colonists  in  the  Antilles  call  it  the 
"  Shoemaker"  (Cordonnier),  probably  because  of  the  long 
threads  which,  at  their  end  s,  resemble  pieces  of  white  wax. 

75.  THE  HORSE  or  MONKEY  FISH.  (Vomer  setipin- 
nis.)  The  body  of  this  fish  is  much  compressed  and  elevat- 
ed; the  back  is  nearly  straight,  abruptly  descending  above 
the  eye  and  forming  a  concave  profile.  It  is  a  beautiful, 
uniform  silvery  fish,  swimming  in  a  peculiar  way.  Each 
stroke  of  the  long  pectorals  brings  it  suddenly  upwards, 
but  only  to  sink  again  the  next  interval,  so  that  it  seems  to 
be  in  a  kind  of  dancing  motion.  Length  six  to  ten  inches. 
Maine  to  Florida. 

76.  THE  BLUE  FISH.  (Pomatomus  saltatrix.)  A  well 
known  and  valued  table-fish,  bluish  above,  lighter  beneath 
and  on  the  sides.  Its  body  is  oblong  and  compressed.  The 
cleft  of  the  mouth  is  rather  wideband  the  jaws  contain  a 
series  of  very  strong  teeth.  Those  caught  in  September 
and  October  are  the  most  prized.  They  have  a  wide  range 
in  nearly  all  the  seas  of  the  tropical  and  temperate  regions. 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


33 


77.  THE  BLACK  RUDDERFTSH.  (Palinurichthys  per- 
ciformis.)  An  occasional  visitor  to  our  shores.  Its  body  is  ob- 
long, elliptical  and  compressed  ;  length  nine  inches.  Color 
bronze  black ;  eyes  orange  yellow.  Maine  to  Cape  Hatteras. 

F  am  . — Bairaehida. 

78.  THE  TOAD-FISH.  (Batrachus  tau.)  An  ugly  fish 
without  any  scales,  and  covered  with  a  thick  coating  of 
slime,  so  that  the  color  does  not  appear  with  distinctness. 
Sometimes  it  is  olive-green,  mottled  with  brown  ;  at  other 
times  it  is  brown,  marbled  with  darker  colors.  The  head  is 
wider  than  the  body.  Generally  this  fish  lies  motionless 
at  the  bottom,  half  buried  in  the  sand  or  in  seaweed.  It 
gets  its  food  either  by  sucking  in  small  marine  animals,  or 
by  suddenly  seizing  smaller  fishes  within  its  reach.  Its 
flesh  is  said  to  be  well  flavored  when  properly  cooked. 
Length  six  to  twTelve  inches.    Nova  Scotia  to  Florida. 

F  a  m  . — Pedicula  ti. 

79  THE  ANGLER,  SEA-DEVIL,  FISHING-FROG, 
BELLOWS -FISH,  GOOSE -FISH  or  MONK-FISH. 
(Lop  hi  us  pi  sea- 
torius.)  This  is 
a  very  ugly  and 
repulsive  look- 
ing fi  s  h  .  It 
seems  to  be 
nothing  but 
head  or  rather 
mouth,  with  a 
small  body  at- 
tached thereto. 
Th'e  head  is 
nearly  circular 
in  its  outline, 
the  cleft  of  the 
mouth  occupy- 
ing half  of  it. 
The  teeth  are 
large  and  num- 
erous, and  there 
are  many  small 


34 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


barbels  around  the  mouth.  *  Its  first  dorsal  fin  consists  of 
a  few,  separate,  very  long  and  flexible  spines,  which  are  in 
perpetual  motion,  and  thus  serve  to  attract  its  prey,  while 
the  fish  is  otherwise  at  rest  on  the  bottom,  half  covered  by 
sand  and  mud.  Another  peculiarity  of  its  body  are  the 
stalked  or  pedunculated  pectorals  which  clearly  indicate 
their  homology  with  the  arms  or  forelegs  of  higher  animals. 

The  Angler  is  not  uncommon  on  our  coasts.  It  has 
been  caught  off  the  battery  in  New  York  City,  and  is 

sometimes  hauled 
up  by  the  lines 
laid  out  for 
codfish,  hav- 
ing swallowed  one 
of  the  fish  and  be- 
ing unable  to  get 
rid  of  hook  and 
line.  There  have 
been  exhibited  in 
the  Aquarium  sev- 
eral specimens  of 
this  fish,  and  a 
large  cast,  made  of 
one  of  them,  shows 
all  the  remarkable 
features  of  their 
body ;  but  unfor- 
tunately it  seems 
to  be  almost  impos- 
sible to  keep  them 
alive  in  the  tanks 
for  more  than  a 
couple  of  days. 


80.  THE  WALKING  FISH.  {Pterophryne  Icevigata) 
This  fish  is  a  near  relative  of  the  Angler.  Its  pectoral 
fins  are  pedunculated  so  as  to  resemble  the  forefeet  of  a 
mammal,  after  the  manner  of  which  it  uses  them.  It  is  a 
remarkable  sight  to  see  this  curiously  shaped  fish  quietly 
and  slowly  crawl  along  the  bottom  of  the  tank,  placing 
one  foot  after  the  other  with  apparent  cautious  discern- 
ment.   But  for  this  peculiarity  one  might  be  inclined  to 


NEW   YORK  AQUARIUM. 


35 


take  the  Walking  Fish  for  a  Sea-raven,  the  odd  fringes 
and  tossels  of  which  are  even  more  plainly  conspicuous 
and  numerous  than  in  the  raven.  The  whole  body  is 
covered  with  cutaneous  tentacles  ;  even  parts  of  the  fins 
are  transformed  into  tufts  branching  off  to  the  sides  like 
fern  leaves.  The  ground-color  of  the  skin  is  yellowish, 
largely  marbled  with  brown  ;  round  white  spots  are  on  the 
sides  and  belly.  Specimens  of  this  fish  have  been  found  in 
the  Atlantic,  the  Indian  and  Chinese  seas,  north  of  Aus- 
tralia and  in  Polynesia.  That  exhibited  in  the  Aquarium 
was  caught  near  Newport,  R.  I.,  and  presented  by  Mr.  E. 
V.  Lawter. 


Fam. — Blenmidce. 

81.  THE  SEA  WOLF.  (Anar ric has  vomer inus.)  A  fish 
three  to  five  feet  long,  with  an  elongated  body,  long  and 
narrow  dorsal  and  anal  fins,  a  high  and  compressed  head, 
and  large,  ugly  teeth  in  a  wide  mouth.  It  is  said  to  be  of 
a  voracious  and  savage  character,  and  marvellous  tales  are 
related  by  the  fishermen  of  the  strength  and  power  of  their 
jaws,  exaggerations,  probably,  from  its  formidable  appear- 
ance.   Greenland  to  Cape  Hatteras. 

82.  THE  WRY-MOUTH,  or  GHOST-FISH.  (Crypta- 
canthodes  maculatus.)  A  rare  and  remarkably  shaped  fish, 
with  an  eel-like  body  and  an  oblong  head,  the  lower  jaw  of 
which  is  directed  upwards  in  a  very  conspicuous  way. 
The  name  is  derived  from  its  sullen  or  wry-mouthed  facial 
expression.  It  is  of  a  reddish  white  color,  with  many  irreg- 
ular, bright,  reddish  brown  blotches.  Nothing  is  known 
about  its  habits.  In  confinement  it  tries  to  conceal  itself, 
moves  very  little  and  probably  feeds  at  night.  Nova  Scotia 
to  New  Jersey. 

83.  THE  EEL-POUT,  CONGER-EEL  or  LAMPER- 
EELV  (Zoarces  angtiillaris.)  A  fish  with  a  long  and  narrow 
body  ;  the  dorsal,  caudal  and  anal  fins  connecting.  The 
head  is  thicker  and  wider  than  the  body ;  the  mouth  is  sit- 
uated at  the  lower  side.  Its  color  is  dark  olive,  varied  with 
dusky  blotches.  It  is  caught  in  company  with  the  Cod. 
Length  two  to  three  feet.  Newfoundland  to  Cape  Hatteras. 


36 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


Fam. — Acronurida. 

84.  THE  DOCTOR-FISH.  (Acanthurus  nigricans.)  This 
fish  derives  its  name  from  a  movable,  lancet-shaped  spine, 
situated  in  a  longitudinal  groove  on  each  side  of  the  tail. 
It  is  dark-colored,  with  different,  rather  inconsistent  mark- 
ings of  blue  ;  its  body  is  high  and  compressed.  Its  move- 
ments are  quick  and  nervous,  and  when  kept  confined  with 
other  fish,  they  are  subject  to  serious  injury  from  its  lancet. 
They  are  of  such  a  chivalrous  character  that  one  Doctor- 
fish  will  even  fight  and  kill  another  of  the  same  kind 
Their  length  is  from  six  to  twelve  inches.  We  had  speci- 
mens of  it  brought  from  Bermuda. 


F  am. — Labyrinthici. 

85.  THE  GOURAMI.  (Trickogaster  fasciatus.)  A  small, 
but  very  handsome  fresh-water  fish  from  the  East  Indies, 
imported  to  this  country  by  Messrs.  Chas.  Reiche  &  Bro. 
TJieir  high  and  compressed  body  has  many  oblique,  dark 
stripes.  The  abdominal  fins  resemble  long  bristles,  and  the 
anal  fin  is  lined  bv  vermilion  dots. 


F  a  m  . — Mugilidac. 

86.  THE  STRIPED  MULLET.  (Mugili  lineatus.)  A 
slender  fish  with  nearly  a  straight  dorsal  outline;  head 
covered  with  large  scales,  shining  with  a  greenish  metallic 
reflection.   Length  six  to  eight  inches.  Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 


F  a  m  . — P  o  mac  entr  idee. 

87.  THE  COW-PILOT,  or  SERGEANT-MAJOR.  (Gly- 
phidodon  saxatilis.)  A  short  fish,  not  exceeding  six  inches  in 
length,  with  an  elevated  body  and  "five  black  cross  bands  in 
a  golden-green  skin.  It  very  common  throughout  the  West 
Indies,  and  frequents  the  sheltered  wratersin  company  with 
Parrot,  Angel,  and  Four-eyed  Fishes.  It  feeds  on  shellfish. 
Our  specimens  were  brought  from  Bermuda,  but  did  not 
long  survive  the  change. 


NEW   YORK  AQUARIUM. 


37 


F  a  m  . — Labridce. 

88.  THE  HOG-PISH.  (Lachnolcemus  falcatus.)  This  fish 
gets  its  name  from  its  swine-like  profile  and  dentition.  Its 
body  is  compressed  and  elevated,  its  snout  pointed,  its  dor- 
sal spines  protruding,  and  its  skin  resembles  brown  and  red 
marble.  When  it  swims,  the  dorsal  spines  and  their  long, 
streamer-like  appendages  or  continuations  give  it  a 
singularly  graceful  appearance. 

It  is  very  common  in  Bermuda  and  caught  there  in  great 
numbers.  It  attains  a  length  of  thirty  inches  and  a  weight 
of  twenty  pounds;  has  a  hard,  white,  exquisitely-flavored 
flesh,  and  ranges  among  the  choicest  of  table-fish. 

89.  THE  NEW  YORK  TAUTOG,  or  BLACKFISH. 
(Tautoga  onitis.)  Belongs  to  the  family  of  Labridce.  or  Wras- 
ses, so  called  from  labrum  or  lip,  which  is  protrusile  in  these 
fishes.  These  fishes  live  on  rocky  shores,  and  feed  chiefly 
on  mollusks.  Their  dentition  is  admirably  adapted  for 
crushing  shells  and  crabs. 

The  Tautog  has  a  compressed,  oblong  body,  covered  with 
small,  adherent  scales  ;  its  color  is  bluish  black,  with  ir- 
regular darker  blotches  and  bands.  It  is  abundant  on  our 
coasts  from  April  until  late  in  the  autumn,  when  it  retires 
into  deeper  water.  It  weighs  about  two  pounds,  but  is 
sometimes  found  weighing  as  much  as  ten  pounds.  It  is  a 
well-known,  strong,  savory  fish,  and  is  a  great  favorite  with 
anglers,  to  one  of  whom  (Isaac  M'Lellan)  we  are  indebted 
for  the  following  accurately  descriptive  lines: — 

Wherever  kelp  and  sea-weed  cling 
To  ramparts  form'd  of  rugged  rocks, 
The  tautog  finds  a  dwelling  place, 
Deep  down  in  waters  at  their  base  ; 
Or  where  a  passing  boat  hath  met 

Its  fate  along  the  rocky  shore, 
And.  with  its  broken  ribs  and  keel, 

Lies  rotting  on  the  ocean  floor — 
There,  where  the  clinging  shell  and  weed 

Gather,  and  barnacles  abound, 
The  blackfish,  seeking  out  their  food, 
In  numbers  by  the  hook  are  found. 

90.  THE  BERGALL  or  CUNNER.  (Tautog olabr us 
adspersus.)  A  prettily  shaped,  lively  and  cunning  fish,  with 


3* 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


a  row  of  sharp,  cutting  teeth  in  both  jaws,  covered  by  fleshy- 
lips.  Its  colors  are  variable,  more  or  less  blue  or  brown, 
sometimes  with  dusky  bars.  The  fishermen  dislike  this 
fish  because  it  nibbles  their  bait.  Length  six  to  twelve 
inches.    Newfoundland  to  Cape  Hatteras. 

THE  SPOTTED  BERGALL.  (Tautogolabrus  uninotatus.) 
This  is  apparently  only  a  variety  of  the  former.  It  has  a 
black  spot  on  the  first  two  soft  rays  of  the  dorsal  fin. 

91.  THE  SLIPPERY  DICK.  {Chcerojulis  bivittatw.) 
This  fish  has  its  curious  name  from  its  ability  to  escape 
from  the  nets  and  pounds,  or  from  the  hand,  by  aid  of  its 
quickness  in  moving  and  its  slippery  surface.  When 
caught  and  put  into  an  open  tank  it  tries  to  get  out  by 
jumping  high  above  the  surface.  It  is  a  small  fish,  about 
six  inches  long,  with  a  straight  upper  and  lower  outline. 
Its  surface  is  covered  by  brown,  bluish  and  red  spots  and 
bands;  the  base  of  its  dorsal  fin  is  violet.  It  likes  to  hide 
itself,  and  at  night  to  sleep  among  the  pebbles  or  sand  at 
the  bottom  of  the  tank,  and  so  thoroughly  does  it  conceal 
itself  that  hardly  a  spot  of  it  is  to  be  seen ;  but  when  dis- 
turbed it  swims  around  lively  and  dexterously.  The 
inhabitants  of  the  Bermuda  Islands  do  not  eat  this  fish  be- 
cause they  have  a  superstitious  belief  that  they  will  lose  all 
their  hair  after  doing  so 


Fam. — Gadida. 

92.  THE  CODFISH.  (Gadus  morrhua)  This  is  one  of 
the  most  valuable  of  all  fishes.  It  lives  in  deep  water 
during  the  summer  months,  comes  to  the  shores  about  the 
end  of  August,  and  remains  in  the  vicinity  of  the  land  ail 
winter.  During  this  time  many  millions  of  them  are 
caught.  Their  weight  averages  from  five  to  fifteen  pounds, 
but  it#is  not  uncommon  to  find  specimens  weighing  forty 
or  fifty  pounds,  and  several  trustworthy  persons  have 
reported  the  capture  of  cod  of  more  than  five  feet  in  length 
and  of  a  weight  of  over  a  hundred  pounds.  The  number 
of  eggs  in  one  cod  is  simply  enormous.  In  one  instance 
the  roe  weighed  seven  and  three-quarter  pounds,  and,  on 


NEW    YORK  AQUARIUM. 


39 


a  careful  calculation,  it  was  found  to  contain  no  fewer 
than  6,876,000  eggs.  This  explains  how  it  is  possible  that 
the  sea  contains  such  a  vast  supply  of  this  useful  fish. 

In  1865  it  was  discovered  by  Dr.  George  Ossian  Sars,  a 
famous  naturalist  of  Norway,  that  the  spawn  of  the  cod 
and  similar  fishes  floats  on  the  surface  of  the  sea  during 
the  whole  period  of  its  development,  which  is  stated  by 
him  to  occupy  sixteen  days.  The  eggs  are  almost  trans- 
parent and  resemble  grains  of  boiled  sago. 

The  Cod  is  found  in  countless  schools  in  the  northern 
parts  of  the  Atlantic  ocean,  both  on  the  American  and 
European  coasts,  in  greatest  abundance,  however,  in  the 
vicinity  of  New  England  and  Newfoundland,  as  was 
known  centuries  ago.  Those  on  the  New  England  coast 
are  said  to  be  better  than  what  are  caught  off  Newfound- 
land. This  was  known  as  early  as  16 16.  Capt.  John 
Smith  said  in  a  report  about  them:  "  In  the  end  of  August, 
September,  October  and  November,  you  have  Cod  againe 
to  make  Cor  fish  or  Poore  John:  &  each  hundred  is  as 
good  as  two  or  three  hundred  in  the  New-found  Land." 
Thomas  Morton  writes  about  the  Cod  at  the  coast  of  New 
English  Canaan  (New  England),  in  1636:  "The  coast 
aboundeth  with  such  multitudes  of  Codd,  that  the  inhabi- 
tants of  New  England  doe  dunge  their  grounds  with  Codd; 
&  it  is  a  commodity  better  than  the  golden  mines  of  the 
Spanish  Indies ;  for  without  dried  Codd  the  Spaniard,  Port- 
ugal &  Italian  would  not  be  able  to  vittell  of  a  shipp  for 
the  sea." 

The  food  of  the  Cod  is  greatly  varied  and  consists, 
according  to  the  statement  of  Simeon  F.  Cheney,  of  crabs, 
scollops,  and  the  jellies  on  the  bottom.  Larger  Cod  eat 
small  flounders,  small  pollock  and  hake,  small  salmon, 
sea-perch,  cunners,  with  other  things  found  at  the  bottom 
of  the  water,  but  they  always  prefer  the  herring.  Some 
come  in  schools  and  eat  the  herring  spawn. 

There  are  two  varieties  of  the  Cod,  a  smaller  one,  with 
a  bright  golden  color,  that  lives  mostly  on  the  banks;  and 
a  larger  one  with  a  brownish  color  that  is  found  on  the 
shore.  Some  specimens  of  the  former  are  almost  as  bright 
as  goldfish.  They  are  splendid  to  look  at.  "How  unlike," 
says  Frank  Buckland,  "  how  very  unlike  is  a  live  cod 
to  the  flabby,  big-headed  creature  one  sees  on  the  fish- 
monger's slab !    The  live  Cod  is  an  intelligent  looking 


40 


NEW   YORK  AQUARIUM. 


creature.  True  he  has  an  immense  mouth  and  great  roll- 
ing eyes,  but  can't  he  swim!  He  goes  as  easily  and  as 
swiftly  as  an  express  train.  A  slight  move  of  his  tail  and 
away  he  goes,  darting  like  an  arrow." 

93.  THE  TOM-COD,  or  FROST-FISH.  {Microgadus 
tomcodus.)  A  small  and  lively  fish,  found  on  our  coasts  at 
all  times,  but  most  abundantly  after  the  first  frost  in  the 
early  part  of  winter.  Its  head  is  small  and  flattened  above; 
its  tail  is  long  and  slender.  It  is  of  dark  olive  green  color, 
with  irregular  streaks  and  blotches.  Length  four  to  twelve 
inches.    Newfoundland  to  Cape  Hatteras. 

94.  THE  HADDOCK.  (Melanogrammus  ceglefinus)  Has, 
like  the  cod,  a  barbel  at  the  chin,  three  dorsal  and  two  anal 
fins.  The  abdominal  fins  are  situated  in  front  of  the  pecto- 
rals. It  is  distinguished  from  the  cod  by  a  lighter  color, 
the  jet  black  lateral  line,  and  by  the  form  of  the  first  dorsal 
which  is  elevated  and  pointed. 

The  Haddock  is  not  as  common  as  the  cod,  though  it 
comes  to  our  markets  by  the  hundred  thousands,  and  is  at 
times,  particularly  during  summer,  more  easily  obtained 
than  the  latter.  It  is  inferior  as  an  article  of  food,  cannot 
be  kept  alive  in  the  wells  of  the  fishing  smacks  like  the  cod 
and  is  very  difficult  to  keep  alive  in  a  tank. 

95.  THE  POLLOCK,  or  COAL-FISH.  (Pollachius  ear- 
bonarius.)  Similar  to  the  cod  and  often  taken  in  company 
with  it.  Its  color  is  a  dark  blackish  green  ;  the  fins  are 
blackish  brown.  It  has  no  barbel  at  the  chin,  or  at  most  a 
very  small  one.  Length  one  to  three  feet.  Northern 
Atlantic,  on  the  European  and  American  coasts. 

96.  THE  CODLING  or  SQUIRREL-HAKE.  (Phych 
chuss.)  Reddish  brown  ;  the  third  ray  of  the  first  dorsal  elon- 
gated ;  the  filamentous  ventrals  almost  half  as  long  as  the 
body.  It  is  sometimes  very  abundant  on  our  coasts.  Length 
one  to  three  feet.    Newfoundland  to  Cape  Hatteras. 

97.  THE  SPOTTED  CODLING.  (Urophycis  regius.) 
The  color  of  this  fish  is  pale  brown,  the  lateral  line  very 
conspicuous,  alternately  black  and  wmite;  the  ventral  fins 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


4' 


are  reduced  to  a  single  long  ray  divided  at  its  end.  A  sin- 
gular habit  of  this  fish  is  to  lie  for  hours  on  its  side,  giving 
it  the  appearance  of  being  sick.  Length  ten  inches.  Cape 
Cod  to  Cape  Hatteras. 


Fa  m. — Pleuronectidce. 

The  Pleuronectid^e  or  Flatfishes  are  common  but  very  remark- 
able fishes,  both  in  regard  to  their  form  and  development.  Most  people 
would  get  the  impression  that  Flatfishes  lie  on  their  belly,  and  that  the 
darker  colored  back  is  directed  upwards.  This  is  a  mistake,  as  a  look  at 
the  fins  and  mouth  will  prove.  The  long  dorsal  and  anal  fins  line  the  flat 
body,  one  each  of  the  pectorals  and  abdominals  is  above,  one  below, 
and  the  jaws  are  placed  as  usual.  Thus  it  is  seen  that  Flatfishes  lie  on 
but  one  side.  From  this  it  follows  that  the  sides  are  differently  colored 
and,  what  is  more  remarkable,  that  both  eyes  are  on  one  side  of  the 
head.  These  two  anomalies  do  not  exist  in  the  young.  Their  form  is 
symmetrical  like  that  of  other  vertebrates  :  both  sides  are  of  the  same 
light  color,  and  one  eye  is  on  each  side.  But  soon  the  eye  on  one  side 
sinks  into  the  head;  a  mark  like  a  buttonhole  appears  at  the  opposite 
side,  just  above  the  other  eye;  the  first  one  comes  to  sight  again,  and  at 
the  same  time  the  change  in  the  color  of  the  sides  is  completed. 

Flatfishes  are  found  on  a  bottom  of  sand  and  gravel,  their  sides  partly 
covered  with  it  so  that  it  is  difficult  to  detect  them.  Only  their  large, 
protruding,  opalescent  eyes,  which  can  be  moved  singly,  are  easily  dis- 
covered. For  moving  through  short  distances  they  use  parts  of  their 
dorsal  and  anal  fins,  leaning  on  them  and  thus  slightly  pushing  their 
body.  Their  swimming  consists  of  graceful,  undulatory  movements 
which  are  very  interesting  to  see. 

08.  THE  SPOTTED  TURBOT.  (Lophopsetta  maculata) 
Dark  olive  brown;  body  and  fins  with  numerous  black 
spots;  the  anterior  rays  of  the  first  dorsal  fin  with  mem- 
branous slips.  This  fish  is  considered  a  delicate  article  of 
food,  but  seldom  found  in  our  markets.  Its  length  gener- 
ally does  not  exceed  fifteen  inches,  but  sometimes  speci- 
mens are  caught  that  weigh  twenty  pounds.  Cape  Cod  to 
Cape  Hatteras. 

99.  THE  COMMON  FLOUNDER.  (Chanopsetta  ocel- 
Jan's.)  Olive  brown;  upper  surface  with  spots,  some  of 
which  are  ocellated  or  encircled  by  a  lighter  ring.  This 
savory  fish  is  abundant  on  our  coasts  during  summer. 
Its  length  is  from  twelve  to  eighteen  inches. 


4,2 


NEW   YORK  AQUARIUM. 


100.  THE  RUSTY  DAB.  {Champ setta  oblonga.)  Nearly 
uniform  brown  ;  occasionally  with  spots  ;  fins  reddish 
brown  ;  caudal  fin  angulated.  Common  along  our  sandy 
shores,  being  abundant  in  September  and  October.  Length 
fifteen  to  twenty  inches.    Cape  Cod  to  Cape  Hatteras. 

101.  THE  SPOTTED  SOLE.  (Achirus  lineatus)  Color 
greenish  brown,  with  numerous  black  lines  and  blotches. 
No  pectoral  fins.  This  species  is  very  common,  but  too 
small  to  be  of  much  value  for  the  table.  When  kept  in  a 
tank  with  a  sandy  or  muddy  bottom,  it  buries  itself  out  of 
sight.    Length  three  to  six  inches.    Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 


O  rd  er — Pkysostoini.  F  am. — SiluricUz. 

Numerous,  mostly  freshwater  fishes,  commonly  called  catfish,  horned- 
pouts,  and  bullheads.  They  are  easily  known  by  their  peculiar  form  :  a 
broad  head  with  thick  lips  and  eight  long,  fleshy  barbels,  an  unwieldy, 
thick  and  short  body  destitute  of  scales,  and  an  adipose  fin  (a  fin  without 
rays  or  spines)  situated  between  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins.  They  are  slug- 
gish in  their  movements,  particularly  when  full  grown,  and  secure  their 
prey  more  by  alluring  it  to  their  resting  places  at  the  muddy  bottom  than 
by  swiftness.  Some  species  do  not  grow  over  eight  inches  in  length, 
others  attain  a  very  large  size  and  a  weight  up  to  two  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds.  The  Aquarium  had  one  specimen  weighing  one  hundred  and 
sixty  pounds. 

102.  THE  COMMON  CAT-FTSH.  (Amiurus  catus.) 
Dusky,  sides  of  the  head  greenish,  those  of  the  body  cupre- 
ous. Caudal  nearly  even  and  rounded.  Length  six  to 
twelve  inches.    Abundant  in  lakes  and  streams. 

103.  THE  GREAT  LAKE  CAT-FISH.  (Amiurus  nigri- 
cans.) A  large  species  from  the  great  lakes ;  upper  jaw  longer 
than  the  lower;  caudal  fin  deeply  forked;  color  plumbagi- 
nous. 

104.  THE  BROWN  CAT-FISH.  (Amiurus pullis)  Uni- 
form dusky  brown  above,  bluish  white  beneath.  Abundant 
in  the  lakes  of  New  York  and  eastward. 

105.  THE  SEA- WATER  CAT-FISH.  (Ailurichthys  ma- 
rinus.)  This  is  a  handsome,  swift  and  voracious  fish,  with 
two  very  long,  fleshy  barbels  at  the  angle  of  the  mouth, 


NEW   YORK  AQUARIUM. 


43 


and  two  smaller  ones  at  the  chin.  The  dorsal  fin  is  high 
and  considerably  curved  ;  the  caudal  is  crescent  shaped. 


F  a  m  . — Salmonidos. 

This  family  comprises  more  than  one  hundred  and  sixty  species;  most 
of  them  are  very  valuable  fishes,  and  famous  for  both  their  game  character 
and  palatable  flesh.  They  have  an  elongated,  handsome  body  covered 
with  a  prettily  colored,  scaly  skin,  a  naked  head,  and  mouth  with  strong 
teeth,  no  barbels,  and  a  small  adipose  fin  behind  the  dorsal.  In  the 
spawning  season  they  ascend  the  rivers,  some  of  them  as  high  as  the 
'  region  of  permanent  snow. 

106.  THE  BROOK  or  SPECKLED-TROUT.  (Salnur 
fontinalis.)  Body  olive,  with  blackish  numerous  red  spots. 
It  is  an  excellent  and  well  known  fish,  affording  high  sport 
to  the  angler,  and  estimated  in  New  York  as  the  most  relish- 
able  of  all  fishes.  Their  color  varies  nearly  as  much  as  their 
flavor  ;  those  of  clear  mountain  streams  being  considered 
the  best.  Length  six  to  twenty-four  inches.  The  rivers  and 
lakes  of  British  North  America  and  the  northern  parts  of 
the  United  States  are  abundantly  stocked  with  them. 

The  Red-bellied  Trout  (Sahno  erythrogaster)  is  a  variety 
of  the  Brook  Trout,  with  a  reddish-orange  abdomen. 

107.  THE  LAKE-TROUT,  SALMON-TROUT,  or 
MACKINAW-TROUT.  (Salmo  ttamaycush.)  Grayish  in 
color  and  more  or  less  spotted.  Body  stout  and  head  very 
large.  Length  two  to  six  feet.  "His  great  size  and  im- 
mense strength  alone"  says  Herbert,  "give  him  value  as  a 
fish  of  game  ;  but  when  hooked,  he  pulls  strongly  and  fights 
hard,  though  he  is  a  boring,  deep  fighter,  and,  I  think,  never 
leaps  out  of  the  water  like  the  true  salmon  or  the  brook- 
trout."    Great  lakes,  north  to  the  Arctic  Seas. 

108.  THE  CALIFORNIA  SALMON.  (Salmo  quinnat) 
Head  pointed  and  large,  dorsal  line  regularly  arched;  cau- 
dal deeply  cut  out. .  This  is  the  most  important  salmon  of 
the  western  waters,  both  in  excellence  and  numbers.  Many 
millions  of  its  eggs  have  been  transported  during  the  last 
three  years  from  California  for  distribution  throughout  the 
Eastern  and  Middle  States.   The  Aquarium  received  in  the 


44 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


fall  of  1876,  50,000  eggs  from  Spencer  Baird,  of  the  U.  S. 
Fish  Commission,  which  were  successfully  hatched  and  dis- 
tributed in  various  adjacent  waters.  The  same  is  done  this 
season.  The  Pacific  coast  of  North  America,  from  San 
Francisco  northward. 


F  am  .  — Esocidce. 

109.  THE  GREAT  LAKE-PIKE.  (Esox  luciusvar.es- 
tor.)  A  beautiful  fish,  of  an  olive-green  color,  handsomely 
spotted  with  round  yellowish  spots  as  large  as  peas;  each  , 
scale  with  a  shining  V-shaped  mark  opening  sidewards. 
Length  one  to  four  feet.  Great  lakes  and  the  headwaters 
of  the  Mississippi. 

110.  THE  MUSKALLUNGE.  (Esox  nobilior)  Grayish 
with  white  spots  ;  cheeks  and  opercles  half  bare.  Length, 
one  to  six  feet.    Great  lakes. 

111.  THE  PICKEREL.  (Esox  reticulata.)  Green,  with  a 
network  of  brown  streaks  on  the  sides.  Length,  one  to 
three  feet.  It  is  abundant  in  the  streams  of  the  Eastern 
and  Middle  States. 

112.  THE  PIKE.  (Esox  americanus.)  This  fish  is  of  a  dark 
green  color.  Its  sides  are  marked  with  about  twenty  dis- 
tinct blackish  bars.  Its  length  is  six  to  ten  inches.  It  is 
found  in  the  Atlantic  streams  of  the  Eastern  and  Middle 
States. 


F  am. — Cyprinodontidoz. 

113.  THE  SHEEPSHEAD  LEBIAS.  (Cyprinodon  varie- 
gatus.)  A  small  fish  with  large  scales,  one  inch  high  and 
two  inches  long.  The  female  has  irregular  and  blackish 
vertical  spots  on  the  body.  The  male  is  without  these  spots. 
It  lives  in  salt  and  brackish  streams  in  the  neighborhood 
of  New  York. 

114.  THE  KILLIFISH.  (Fundulus  diaphanus.)  This  fish 
abounds  in  all  our  salt  water  creeks  (which  our  Dutch  an- 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


45 


cestors  called  4<  kills  ")  and  bays.  It  is  two  to  five  inches  long, 
has  a  small,  rounded  caudal  fin,  a  short  and  high  dorsal  placed  on 
the  posterior  part  of  the  body,  and  is  of  a  greenish  color.  The 
male  has  many  broad  cross  bands ;  the  female  three  more  or 
less  interrupted  longitudinal  bands. 


Fam. — Hetcropygii. 

115.  THE  BLIND  FISH.  (Typhlichthys  subterraneus). 
Several  specimens  of  this  interesting  little  fish  were  received 
from  the  famous  Mammoth  Cave  in  Kentucky.  They  are  very 
small,  not  exceeding  two  inches  in  length,  colorless,  and  with- 
out any  ventral  fins  Their  eyes  are  rudimentary  and  of  no  use. 
On  the  head  and  sides  of  the  body  there  are  prominent  ridges 
consisting  of  minute  papillae  in  which  many  nerves  terminate. 
These  papillae  are  delicate  organs  of  touch,  enabling  the  fish 
to  feel  its  way  in  the  eternal  darkness  of  its  surroundings. 
They  will  live  for  several  months  in  quiet,  clear,  and  well  aerated 
water. 


F  a  m. — Cyprinidce. 

116.  THE  COMMON  SUCKER.  (Catostomus  teres).  A 
freshwater  fish,  having  a  long,  rounded,  tapering  body,  and 
thick,  fleshy  lips,  of  which  the  lower  one  is  pendent.  Length 
twelve  to  eighteen  inches.  It  is  abundant  in  our  markets 
in  autumn. 

117.  THE  LONG-FINNED  CHUBSUCKER.  (Carpiodes 
cyprinus).  This  fish  has  a  slight  resemblance  to  the  European 
Carp,  and  is  often  called  by  that  name  in  this  country.  It  has 
a  whitish  skin  and  large  scales ;  the  first  rays  of  its  dorsal  fin 
are  very  much  elevated  and  attenuated ;  the  mouth  is  inferior. 
Length  twelve  to  twenty  inches.    Eastern  lakes  and  rivers. 

118.  THE  GERMAN  CARP.  (Cyprinus  carpio) .  A  famous 
fish,  from  Germany,  considered  there  as  the  most  delicious  and 
palatable  of  all  fishes.  Originally  it  was  only  found  in  some  of 
the  larger  rivers,  but  many  hundred  years  ago  it  was  transported 
to  artificial  and  natural  ponds,  and  now  it  is  spread  over  the 
larger  part  of  Europe,  some  parts  of  Asia,  and  Australia.  Those 
in  our  tanks  were  presented  to  the  Aquarium  by  the  well-known 


46 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


fish  culturist,  Herr  von  Hessels,  who  imported  several  thousands 
of  them,  in  the  spring  of  this  year,  for  the  United  States  Fish 
Commission.  Of  the  numerous  varieties,  found  in  Europe,  he 
selected  the  so-called  King  Carp  (Cyprinus  Rex  Cyprinorum\ 
which  is  more  highly  prized  than  all  others.  It  has  but  a  few 
scales  of  enormous  size,  the  larger  part  of  its  skin  being  naked. 
The  Carps  are  very  tenacious  of  life,  easily  endure  changes  of 
temperature,  and  will  successfully  feed  on  all  kinds  of  vegetable 
refuse. 

119.  THE  GOLD  FISH.  (Carassius  auratus).  No  other 
fish  is  more  widely  distributed  throughout  the  world  than  this. 
It  was  imported  from  China  to  England,  by  Philippe  Worth,  in 
the  year  1728,  was  successfully  bred  and  universally  dis- 
tributed. There  are  many  varieties  of  this  fish  exhibited  in  the 
New  York  Aquarium,  some  with  double  anal  or  caudal  fins, 
some  black,  red,  silvery  white,  or  spotted.  The  most  renowned 
of  all  varieties  is  that  described  in  the  following  section : 

120.  THE  KINGIYO.  This  fish,  together  with  seven 
others,  was  imported  from  Japan  by  Mr.  Gill,  of  the  firm  of 
Martin,  Gill  &  Co.,  large  importers  of  tea  from  that  country, 
and  presented  by  him  to  the  Aquarium.  Too  much  can- 
not be  said  of  the  singular  and  unique  beauty  of  this 
specimen.  The  sides  of  its  thick  and  short  body  are  re- 
splendent with  the  most  brilliant  golden  and  pearly  hues.  The 
caudal  and  anal  fins  united  are  nearly  the  length  of  the  entire 
body,  resembling  the  most  delicate  silken  tissue;  affords  a 
splendid  view  as  it  slowly  and  solemnly  floats  through  the 
water.  Many  visitors  have  expressed  the  opinion  that  this  is 
the  most  remarkable  and  beautiful  fish  they  had  ever  seen. 

121.  THE  LONG-TSING-YU,  CHINESE  QUADRUPLE 
TAIL,  TELESCOPIC  or  DRAGON-EYED  FISH.  Four 
specimens  of  this  valuable  fish,  which  must  be  regarded  as  an- 
other variety  of  the  Goldfish,  were  imported  to  this  country  by 
Messrs.  Chas.  Reiche  &  Bro.  They  have  remarkably  large, 
protruding  eyes,  which  almost  seem  to  be  located  outside  of  the 
head,  and  give  to  the  small,  lively,  and  gracefully-built  fish  a 
resemblance  to  the  Hammerhead  Shark.  All  our  specimens 
came  from  China. 

122.  THE  BLACK-NOSED  DACE.  (Rhinichthys  atrona- 
sus).  A  small  fish,  found  abundantly  in  the  streams  and  rivu- 
lets of  New  York  and  adjoining  States.    It  is  from  one  to  three 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


47 


inches  long,  and  is  easily  recognized  by  a  black  band  that  runs 
from  the  snout  to  the  root  of  the  caudal  fin. 


THE  KINGIYO. 


123.  THE  ENGLISH  ROACH.  (Leuciscus  rutilus).  Some 
specimens  of  this  fish  were  brought  to  this  country  by  CapL 


48 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


Mortimer,  of  the  ship  "Hamilton  Fish,"  a  gentleman  oflarge 
experience  and  fine  culture,  and  presented  by  him  to  the 
Aquarium.  They  belong  to  a  genus  that  has  representatives 
in  Europe,  Asia,  and  America.  Our  species  has  a  silvery-white 
body,  with  red  eyes  and  fins. 

124.  THE  SHINING  DACE.  (Leuciscus  argenteus).  A 
handsome  fish,  with  an  elongated  and  silvery-white  body.  The 
scales  are  large,  and  have  blackish  membranes  at  their  base. 
Length  three  to  eighteen  inches.   New  England  and  New  York. 

125.  THE  GERMAN  TENCH  or  SCHLEIHE.  {Tinea 
vulgaris).  A  dark-colored  fish,  with  two  small  barbels  and 
many  thousands  of  small  scales,  deeply  imbedded  in  a  thick 
skin.  In  favorable  light  they  shine  with  a  golden,  resplendent 
lustre.  The  Tench  is  found  in  muddy  waters  all  over  Europe. 
In  Paris  its  scales  are  used  to  make  artificial  pearls.  Our  fishes 
were  imported,  together  with  the  Carps,  by  Herr  von  Hessels. 

^  »20,  THE  SHINER.  (Note?nigonus  americanus).  A  beau- 
tiful little  fish,  with  a  very  small  head,  and  convex  dorsal  and 
abdominal  outlines.  It  is  greenish  above,  brilliantly  lustrous 
white  at  the  sides.  Length  three  to  six  inches.  New  Eng- 
land, in  bayous,  ponds,  and  weedy  streams. 


F  am. — Clupeidce. 

127.  THE  MOSSBONKER  or  MENHADEN.  (Bre- 
voortia  menhaden).  A  very  common  fish,  extensively  used  as 
manure,  and  as  bait  for  Mackerel,  Cod,  and  Halibut  on  the 
coast  of  Massachusetts.  Its  body  is  much  compressed ;  the 
surface  silvery,  with  a  prominent  humeral  spot  Length  ten 
to  fourteen  inches.    Cape  Cod  to  Cape  Hatteras. 

128.  THE  SHAD.  {Alosa  sapidissima).  A  well-known, 
brilliantly  shining  fish,  of  most  delicate  taste.  Millions  of  it 
are  caught  all  along  our  Eastern  coast.  During  spawning  time 
it  ascends  the  larger  rivers,  often  as  far  as  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles. 

Fam. — Gymnotida. 

129.  THE  COMMON  EEL.  {Anguilla  Bostoniensu). 
This  species  is  found  not  only  near  Boston,  as  the  name  seem* 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


49 


to  indicate,  but  everywhere  on  the  coast  and  in  the  rivers  of 
Northeast  America,  also  in  Japan,  Formosa,  and  China.  It  is 
very  variable  in  its  colors  :  greenish,  brownish,  silvery  gray,  etc. 
Its  length  is  from  one  to  four  feet.  The  eel  was  of  great  value 
to  the  Aquarium,  as  it  afforded  the  principal  food  for  the  White 
Whales  kept  there. 

130.  THE  GREEN  MARAY.  (Muraena  maculipinms\ 
The  form  and  habits  of  this  fish  have  a  great  resemblance  to 
those  of  a  large  snake.  It  is  from  three  to  six  feet  long,  has  a 
cylindrical  body  without  pectoral  fins ;  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins 
are  fleshy,  low,  and  connected  with  each  other  ;  the  mouth  is 
furnished  with  several  rows  of  teeth,  sufficiently  large  and 
sharp-pointed  to  inflict  severe  wounds-  In  Bermuda  they 
catch  it  with  a  hook  and  line,  and  are  very  careful  not  to  expose 
themselves  to  its  bite,  killing  it  as  soon  as  it  is  caught. 

The  Maray  is  nocturnal  in  its  habits.  In  day-time  it 
generally  lies  motionless  in  a  corner  of  its  tank.  When  dis- 
turbed, or  brought  into  the  neighborhood  of  other  fishes,  it  dis- 
plays its  very  dangerous  array  of  teeth.  Then  suddenly 
rushing  upon  its  prey,  it  seizes  and  swallows  it  much  as  snakes 
do  their  food.  The  color  of  its  body  is  green,  but  very  dark, 
nearly  black;  the  dorsal  fin  has  a  narrow  white  edge.  It  is 
found  in  tropical  latitudes  of  the  Atlantic.  Our  specimen  was 
brought  from  Bermuda. 

131.  THE  SPECKLED  MARAY.  {Muraena  moringa\ 
The  size,  form,  and  habits  of  this  specie:  are  the  same  as  of  the 
preceding  one.  Its  body  is  grayish  brown,  with  large,  irregular 
dots  and  blotches  of  a  white  or  yellowish  color,  which  give  it  a 
very  handsome  appearance. 

In  Bermuda  (where  we  received  a  fine  specimen),  this  fish  is 
considered  excellent  food  by  the  lower  classes,  but  an  impres- 
sion exists  that  at  certain  seasons  its  flesh  is  poisonous.  Both 
species  are  near  relatives  to  the  Maray  of  the  Mediterranean 
(Muraena  helena),  made  famous  by  the  tales  of  ancient  writers. 
They  tell  us  that  wealthy  Romans  kept  these  fishes  in  large, 
artificial  ponds,  and  valued  them  so  highly  that  one  patrician 
magnate,  Vedius  Pollio,  used  to  feed  the  flesh  of  his  slaves  to 
them. 

Order  Lophobranxhii. 

Fishes  the  gills  of  which  are  composed  of  small,  rounded  lobes  at- 
tached to  both  sides  of  the  bronchial  arches.     The  gill  opening  is  very 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


small.  The  body  is  covered  by  a  dermal  skeleton  consisting  of  numer- 
ous pieces  which  are  arranged  in  segments.  The  joints  of  these  pieces 
are  generally  elevated  and  keeled. 

132.  THE  PIPE  FISH.  (Sygnathus  peckianus).  Body 
long  and  slender;  the  head  protruding  into  a  narrow,  pipe-like 
snout,  at  the  end  of  which  the  lower  jaw  moves  like  a  projecting 
lid.  When  swimming,  it  generally  keeps  its  body  perpendicular, 
and  moves  only  by  handsome  undulations  of  the  long  dorsal  fin. 
The  female  deposits  her  eggs  into  a  pouch  on  the  tail  of  the 
male,  covered  by  cutaneous  folds.  There  they  are  kept  until 
they  develop.  The  newly-born  young  are  not  much  thicker 
than  a  bristle.  Length  six  to  twelve  inches.  Newfoundland 
to  Cape  Hatteras. 


,133.;  THE  SEA  HORSE.  {Hippocampus  hudsonius).  A 
very  interesting  little  fish,  with  a  head  resembling  that  of  a 


NEW   YORK  AQUARIUM. 


horse,  and  a  finless,  prehensile  tail.  As  with  the  preceding 
species,  the  male  carries  the  eggs  and  young  in  a  sac  at  the 
base  of  the  tail.  Its  swimming  power  is  very  limited,  obliging 
it  to  fasten  itself  to  seaweed  or  other  floating  substances  with 
which  it  is  often  carried  by  currents  to  great  distances.  Its 
food  consists  of  small  crustaceans  like  My  sis  and  allied  species. 
These  it  slowly  approaches  and  suddenly  sucks  into  its  pipe- 
like muzzle.  It  will  also  feed  on  the  Serpula  Dianthus. 
Length  three  to  six  inches.     Cape  Cod  to  Cape  Hatteras. 


Order  Plectognathi.    Fam. — Scleroderma 

134.  THE  EUROPEAN  FILE-FISH  or  BERMUDA  , 
TURBOT.  (Batistes  capriscus).  A  large,  beautiful,  and  re- 
markably shaped  fish.  Its  body  is  high  and  compressed;  its 
mouth  very  small ;  its  skin  dusky  brown,  and  unspotted,  but 
with  obliquely-crossing  lines  indicating  the  position  of  the  large, 
rough,  and  prominent  scales.  Length  twelve  to  eighteen 
inches.    Atlantic  Ocean,  on  European  and  American  coasts. 

135.  THE  LONG-TAILED  FILE-FISH.  (Alutera  cuspi- 
taudd).  Body  high,  compressed,  almost  like  a  leaf.  Skin 
brown,  varied  with  orange,  covered  with  minute  asperities, 
making  it  rough  like  shagreen.  Tail  lancet-shaped,  and  nearly 
half  as  long  as  the  body,  the  length  of  which  is  from  five  to 
eight  inches.    Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 

136.  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  FILE-FISH  or  FOOL- 
FISH.  (Stephanolepis  Massachusettensis).  Brown,  with  ob- 
scure blackish  spots  or  streaks.  Length  three  to  seven  inches. 
Nova  Scotia  to  Florida. 

13V.  THE  COW-FISH.  (Ostracion  quadricornis).  The 
appearance  of  this  fish  is  very  singular.  The  integuments  of 
its  body  are  modified  into  a  three-ridged  carapace  composed 
of  hexagonal,  osseous  scales ;  only  the  snout-like  mouth,  the 
bases  of  the  fins,  and  the  hind  part  of  the  tail  are  covered  by 
soft  skin.  Over  each  eye  there  is  a  prominent,  conical  spine, 
pointing  straight  forward,  and  giving  it  the  cow-like  appear- 
ance. Another  flat,  prominent  spine,  directed  backward,  is 
situated  on  each  ventral  ridge.  The  color  of  the  carapace  is 
very  handsome  in  full  light,  but  changes  a  good  deal.     It  is  a 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


rich  bright  blue,  with  reticulated  brown  lines,  and  light  ocellL 
After  death  the  color  quickly  vanishes. 

The  motions  of  the  Cow-fish  are  slow  and  cautious.  It  often 
rests  for  hours  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea.  It  lives  well  in  a  large, 
well  aerated  tank,  and  feeds  freely  on  shrimps  and  clams. 
Sometimes  it  ejects  water  from  its  mouth  over  the  surface,  to 
a  distance  of  three  or  four  feet.  Its  length  is  from  twelve  to 
twenty-one  inches.  Bermuda. 

138.  THE  TRIANGULAR  FISH  or  CUCKOLD. 
(Ostracion  triqueter).  Similar  in  shape  and  organization  to 
the  preceding  species,  but  smaller,  seldom  exceeding  eight 
inches,  without  spines,  and  differently  colored.  It  is  dark 
brown,  with  many  yellowish-white  circular  spots.  Its  motions 
are  livelier  than  those  of  the  Cow-fish,  though  it  is  not  a  rapidly 
swimming  fish.  Its  broad,  pectoral  fins  are  constantly  moving, 
their  chief  function  apparently  being  to  fan  a  current  of  water 
through  the  gills.  "When  taken  from  the  water,"  says  G. 
Brown  Goode,  <:  one  of  these  fishes  will  live  for  two  or  three 
hours,  all  the  time  solemnly  fanning  its  gills,  and  when  restored 
to  its  native  element,  seems  none  the  worse  for  its  experiences* 
except  that,  on  account  of  the  air  absorbed,  it  cannot  at  once 
sink  to  the  bottom."  Like  the  Cow-fish,  it  has  the  habit  of 
throwing  water  over  the  surface,  suddenly  projecting  its  fleshy 
lips  and  causing  a  small  body  of  water  to  fly  through  the  air. 
West  Indies  and  Bermuda  Islands. 


F  a  m. — Gym  nodontes. 

Fishes  with  a  short  body.  The  bones  of  the  jaws  instead  of  bearing 
teeth  are  themselves  transformed  into  a  sharp,  cutting  beak,  the  upper 
and  lower  part  of  which  is  sometimes  divided  by  a  median  suture.  They 
have  no  ventral  fins,  and  the  other  fins  are  small  and  soft. 

139.  THE  ROUGH  PUFFER  or  SWELL-FISH. 
(Chilichthys  turgidus).  Olive  green;  the  surface  roughened 
with  prickles ;  body  oblong  and  cylindrical.  This  fish  is 
abundant  on  our  coast,  and  derives  its  name  from  the  swollen, 
ball-like  shape  it  takes  when  removed  from  the  water  and 
rubbed  with  the  hand.  It  is  of  no  value  for  the  table.  Length 
six  to  twelve  inches.    Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 

140.  THE  PORCUPINE-FISH  or  SEA-HEDGEHOG. 
{Paradiad&n  hysirix).    The  peculiar  armor  of  this  fish,  and  it* 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


55 


capability  to  swallow  either  air  or  water,  thereupon  assuming 
the  form  of  a  ball,  have  attracted  general  attention.  It  is 
abundant  in  the  West  Indies,  and  is  found  in  the  tropical  and 
subtropical  latitudes  of  other  oceans.  Two  specimens  were 
brought  from  Bermuda  to  the  Aquarium.  They  were  eighteen 
inches  long,  having  a  very  thick  body,  a  high  and  broad,  nearly 
quadrangular,  head,  and  were  covered  with  long  spines,  the 
greater  number  of  which  were  capable  of  being  erected. 

141.  THE     SPINY    BOX-FISH    or  BALLOON-FISH. 

(Chilomycterus  geometricus).  Greenish,  with  numerous  wind- 
ing, brown  stripes,  and  a  few  dark-colored  blotches.  The  sur- 
face is  covered  with  short,  partly  movable  spines.  This  fish  is 
able  to  inflate  itself  with  water  or  air,  taking  the  form  of  a  ball 
in  both  instances.  When  the  inflation  is  with  water  it  falls  to 
the  bottom,  with  air  it  rises  upside  down  to  the  surface. 
Length  five  to  seven  inches.     Cape  Cod  to  Cape  Hatteras. 


Subclass  Ganoidei. 
Order — Holostei.  Fam. — Amiidcz. 

142.  THE  FRESHWATER  DOG-FISH  or  MUD-FISH. 
(Amia  calvd).  Color  dark  olive,  with  greenish  markings  at  the 
sides.  The  male  has  a  roundish  black  spot  on  the  caudal  fin  ; 
the  female,  which  is  of  larger  size,  is  without  this  mark.  Its 
body  is  oblong  and  stout,  the  jaws  are  broad,  rounded,  and  sup- 
plied with  strong  teeth.     The  dorsal  fin  is  very  long. 

This  fish  is  very  interesting  on  account  of  its  manner  of 
breathing.  It  possesses  a  real  lung,  or  rather  a  part  of  its  air- 
bladder  acts  as  a  lung.  It  frequently  comes  to  the  surface 
either  to  inhale  or  exhale  air.  Its  respiration  in  this  way  re- 
sembles that  of  the  proteus  and  of  the  earlier  stages  of  frogs, 
toads,  and  salamanders,  which  have  both  lungs  and  gills..  Its 
flesh  is  soft  and  pasty,  but  not  edible.  In  some  regions  it  is 
called  "The  Lawyer,"  because  "it  will  bite  at  anything,  and 
is  good  for  nothing  when  caught" 


Fam. — Lepidosteida. 

143.  THE  GAR-PIKE.  (Lepidosteus  osseus).  The  body 
of  this  fish  is  covered  with  hard,  enameled,  lozenge-shaped^ 


54 


NEW   YORK  AQUARIUM. 


shining  plates,  a  peculiarity  which  is  found  in  a  very  large 
proportion  in  the  earlier  fossil  fishes,  but  which  is  exceed- 
ingly scarce  now.  Another  remarkable  peculiarity  is,  that 
the  Gar  Pike,  like  the  preceeding  fish,  uses  part  of  its  air- 
bladder  as  a  lung,  and  comes  to  the  surface  to  breathe. 

Its  body  is  elongated  and  cylindrical  ;  its  head  is  pro- 
longed into  a  long  and  bony  snout,  exceeding  in  length 
twice  the  rest  of  the  head.  The  color  of  the  body  is  olive, 
with  numerous  black  spots  that  are  most  conspicuous  in 
the  fins.  Length  one  to  five  feet.  It  is  abundant  in  the 
larger  bodies  of  water  in  the  North-eastern  States. 


Order — Chondrostei.  F  a  m  . — A  cipenserida. 

Fishes  with  an  elongated  fusiform  body,  the  skin  of  which  is  devoid  of 
scales,  but  covered  with  five  rows  of  bony  plates.  The  mouth  lies  at  the 
lower  side  of  the  protruding  snout,  is  transverse,  protractile,  and  tooth- 
less. There  is  a  row  of  four  barbels  in  front  of  the  mouth.  The  tail  has 
two  unequal  lobes,  the  upper  one  being  the  larger. 

144.  THE  SHARP-NOSED  or  COMMON  SEA-STUR- 
GEON. (Acipenser  sturio).  This  is  a  handsome  fish,  with  a 
very  peculiar  form.  It  has  the  appearance  of  a  gallant 
knight,  covered  with  a  showy  armor,  but  its  habits  do  not 
agree  with  this  appearance  of  valor.  It  lies  much  at  the  bot- 
tom,to  which  the  heavy  body,burdended  by  the  bony  shields, 
drag  it,  and  there,  by  means  of  its  four  barbels  and  protrac- 
tile mouth,  it  finds  its  food,  which  consists  of  vegetation  and 
decayed  animal  matter.  In  spring  it  is  found  at  the  con- 
fluence of  rivers  where  sometimes  specimens  of  fifteen  feet 
in  length  are  caught.  The  meat,  eggs  (for  caviar),and  swim- 
ming-bladder (for  isinglass)  are  extensively  used.  Atlantic 
Ocean,  ascending  rivers. 

145.  THE  BLUNT-NOSED  STURGEON.  (Acipenslr 
brevirostris.)  The  snout,  which  in  the  foregoing  species  is 
pointed,  and  measures  half  the  length  of  the  head,  is  blunt 
in  this  one,  and  reaches  but  a  quarter  of  the  length  of  the 
head.  There  are  11-13  dorsal  plates  in  A.  sturio,  8-10  in  A. 
brevirostris;  37-44  dorsal  rays  in  the  first  one,  30  in  the 
latter.    Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


55 


Subclass  Chondropterygii. 

Order — Plagiostomata.  F  am. — Selachoidci. 

Fishes  with  an  elongated  and  nearly  fusiform  body.  Their  skin  con- 
tains an  immense  number  of  small  ossifications,  making  it.  rough  and 
shagreen-like.  The  pectoral  fins  are  separated  from  the  head  (united 
with  it  in  the  Rays).  They  are  easily  recognized,  as  the  elongated 
snout  gives  them  a  very  marked  appearance.  The  mouth,  situated  at 
the  lower  surface  of  the  head,  is  armed  with  several  rows  of  formidable 
teeth.    There  are  five  narrow  gill-openings  at  each  side  of  the  neck. 

This  family  of  fishes  comprises  among  its  125  members  the  largest  and 
most  dangerous  of  all.  The  majority  of  them  are  small,  measuring  from 
three  to  five  feet,  but  some  attain  the  size  of  thirty  feet  and  a  weight  of 
two  thousand  pounds.  They  are  the  frequent  companions  of  ocean  vessels, 
devour  whatever  is  thrown  overboard,  from  the  meanest  article  of  food  to 
man  himself,  don't  reject  even  iron  or  wood  and  really  take  into  their 
capacious  stomach,  without  selection,  whatever  they  are  able  to  swallow. 
This  voracious  character,  together  wtth  their  danger  to  human  hie,  creates 
an  enmity  towards  them  among  sailors  the  world  over.  In  the  mutual 
strife  it  is  a  case  of  "  no  quarter." 

146.  THE  BLUE  SHARK.  (Eulamia  Milberti).  A  fish 
not  over  five  feet  long,  which  hangs  around  the  fishermen's 
quarters,  and  feeds  on  offal  and  dead  fish.  It  is  sometimes 
destructive  to  the  pounds  by  the  force  of  mere  numbers. 
Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 

147.  THE  SMOOTH  DOG-FISH.  (Mustalus  cams).  A 
fish  of  slender  form,  from  one  and  a  half  to  four  feet  long, 
in  color  a  dull,  ashy  gray  above,  white  beneath.  The  name 
is  derived  from  the  skin,  which  is  smoother  than  in  any  other 
kind  of  shark,the  ossifications  being  extremely  small.  It 
generally  keeps  near  the  bottom,  where  it  feeds  on  crusta- 
ceans, the  shell  or  crust  of  which  is  easily  broken  by  their 
numerous  and  pointed  teeth.  It  sometimes  swams  in  vast 
numbers  around  and  into  the  fishermen's  nets,  particularly 
on  the  Massachusetts  coast  at  Menemsha-bight.  Hundreds 
of  boys  and  girls  are  employed  to  take  out  the  livers,  which 
are  used  in  the  manufacture  of  fish-oil.  The  bodies  are 
afterwards  used  as  manure  by  the  farmers.  Cape  Cod  to 
Cape  Hatteras. 

148.  THE  MACKEREL  SHARK.  (Isuropsis  Dekayi).  A 
powerful  fish  with  one  very  large  and  one  small  dorsal  fin,  and 
a  keel  on  both  sides  of  the  tail.  Its  length  is  from  four  to 
eight  feet.    It  follows   the  shoals  of  mackerel   so  regularly  that 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


the  fishermen  watch  it  and  are  guided  by  its  movements  in 
throwing  out  their  nets.    Newfoundland  to  Florida. 

149.  THE  PICKED  DOG-FISH.  {Squalus  americanus). 
A  gray-colored  Shark  of  one  to  three  feet  in  length,  with  a 
strong  spine  in  front  of  the  two  dorsal  fins.  It  is  the  most  common 
shark  on  the  eastern  coast  of  America,  particularly  near  New- 
foundland, where,  in  spring  and  autumn,  it  forms  an  important 
fishery  for  the  oil  which  it  furnishes.  The  fishermen  avoid  this 
shark,  as  it  is  very  skillful  in  inflicting  ugly  wounds  with  its 
spines.  These  it  dashes  violently  into  its  enemy  by  bending 
the  dorsal  side  down  and  suddenly  straightening  it  again. 
During  nine  or  ten  months  in  the  year  the  female  daily  brings 
forth  a  young  one  six  to  eight  inches  long.  The  half  developed 
eggs,  which  are  covered  by  a  transparent,  brownish  shell,  can  be 
cut  out  of  the  female  and  kept  alive  in  sea-water  for  several 
days.  The  constantly  swinging  body,  with  the  bright  red  ex- 
ternal gills,  and  the  tender  blood  lines  which  encircle  the  yolk 
and  bring  nourishment  to  the  young,  form  a  highly  interesting 
preparation. 


Fam. — Baioidei  or  Rays. 

They  resemble  Sharks  in  their  organization,  but  not  in  their  externa! 
form.  The  body  has  a  round  or  rhomboid  form,  the  sides  of  which  are 
represented  by  the  large  pectoral  fins  which  arc  attached  to  the  hind  part 
of  the  head.  The  snout  is  pointed  and  elongated  ;  the  mouth,  nostrils, 
and  gill  openings  are  situated  at  the  lower,  the  eyes  and  the  spiracles 
(small  apertures  behind  the  eyes)  at  the  upper  surface.  The  latter  con- 
duct new  water  to  the  gills  when  the  rays  lie  at  the  bottom  and  have 
their  mouths  closed,  or  when  they  fee_i.  The  narrow  and  long  tail  gene- 
rally has  two  dc.sal  and  one  anal  fin  ;  the  latter  heterocercal  or  unequal 
in  its  lobes.  Their  eyes  show  a  very  remarkable  peculiarity,  consisting 
of  a  fringed  curtain  that  hangs  down  from  ti  c  upper  border  of  the  iris 
and  covers  part  of  the  pupil.  The  eggs  of  the  Rays  are  wider  than  ti'ose 
of  the  Sharks,  have  a  less  transparent  case,  and  resemble  flat  cushions, 
with  long,  coiled  strings  at  the  four  corners.  When  deposited,  the  fe- 
male takes  the  egg  into  her  mouth  and  fastens  it  to  seaweed,  rocks, 
oyster-shells  and  the  like. 

150.  THE  TORPEDO,  CRAMP-FISH,  or  NUMB-FISH. 
{Torpedo  occidentalis).  This  fish  is  renowned  for  its  electric 
power.  The  electric  organs  lie  on  both  sides  of  the  head,  or 
between  the  pectoral  fins  and  the  head,  and  consist  of  numer- 
ous small  boxes  resembling  bee-cells,  which  are  filled  with  a 
gelatinous  substance.    Many  tender  nerves  enter  these  boxes 


NEW   YORK  AQUARIUM. 


ST 


from  one  side  and,  near  the  surface,  form  a  complicated  net- 
work of  nervous  cells  and  fibres.  The  side  covered  by  the 
nervous  network  is  the  same  in  all  the  boxes,  either  the  upper 
or  the  lower  one,  and  thus  an  electric  current  is  established  be- 
tween the  two  opposite  sides.  The  surface  with  the  network  is 
found  to  be  electro-positive,  the  other  electro-negative.  The 
electric  shocks  which  this  species  can  give  are  not  dangerous, 
though  very  sharp.  Fishermen  are  fond  of  making  fun  with  it. 
The  body  of  the  Torpedo  is  a  broad,  smooth  disk.  The  tail 
has  a  longitudinal  fold  along  each  side.  It  is  found,  in  small 
numbers,  from  Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 

151,  THE  PRICKLY  RAY.  (Rata  americana).  Brown 
and  unspotted,  with  pointed  groups  of  pricklss  on  the  upper 


surface,  and  four  series  of  spines  along  the  tail.  Its  length  fj 
from  one  to  two  feet.    Cape  Cod  to  Florida, 


58 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


152.  THE  BARNDOOR  SKATE.  (Rata  lavis).  Light 
brown  and  unspotted,  with  small  spines  on  the  orbits  and  an- 
terior margins  of  the  pectoral  fins.  It  has  three  rows  of  spines 
on  the  tail.  The  rest  of  the  body  is  smooth,  and  is  from  two 
to  four  feet  in  length.    Nova  Scotia  to  Florida. 

153.  THE  SPOTTED  RAY.  (Rata  ocellata).  Light  brown, 
with  numerous  ocellated  black  spots.  Its  length  is  two  to 
three  feet.  It  is  caught  with  a  hook  in  company  with  the  Cod. 
New  England  coasts. 

154.  THE  STING-RAY,  WHIP-RAY,  or  STINGA- 
REE.  (Trygon  centrurd).  Above,  its  color  is  olive  brown,  be- 
neath, white,  tail  longer  than  the  body,  and  armed  with  two  or 
more  spines.  The  total  length  of  this  fish  is  from  five  to  eight 
feet.  When  captured  it  violently  whips  its  tail  about,  the  spines 
of  which  can  inflict  ugly  and  dangerous  wounds.  Fishermen 
pronounce  it  poisonous.    Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 

155.  THE  BUTTERFLY  RAY.  (Pteroplatea  maclurd). 
Above,  the  color  is  greenish  blue,  with  pale  spots,  below,  it  is 
pale  red.  Its  body  is  twice  as  broad  as  long.  Its  tail  is  very 
short.  Its  mode  of  swimming  is  very  interesting,  the  flapping 
of  the  large  sides  reminding  one  of  the  motions  of  flying  birds 
and  butterflies.    Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 

156.  THE  COW-NOSED  RAY.  (Rhinoptera  quadriloba). 
This  Ray  differs  from  most  of  its  relatives  by  having  the  head 
free  from  the  pectoral  fins.  It  is  provided,  however,  with  a 
pair  of  rayed  appendages  to  the  head  called  cephalic  fins  by 
some  naturalists.  Its  tail  is  very  slender,  with  a  dorsal  fin  be- 
fore the  serrated  spine.  It  is  caught  in  the  vicinity  of  New 
York,  and  is  said  to  be  very  troublesome  to  the  amateur  fisher- 
man, as  it  runs  off  with  his  bait  and  spoils  his  line.  Cape  Cod 
to  Florida. 


Subclass  Cyclostomi. 

These  fishes  are,  with  one  exception,  the  Lancelet,  the  lowest  and 
most  imperfectly  built  of  all.  They  have  a  cartilaginous  skeleton,  no 
ribs,  limbs,  shoulder  girdle,  nor  pelvic  elements,  no  real  jaws,  no  scales, 
only  one  nostril,  and  their  gills  have  the  form  of  fixed  sacs.  Their  mouth 
is  nearly  circular,  and  provided  with  many  acute  labial  teeth.    In  their 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


59 


manner  of  feeding  they  resemble  the  leech.  They  fasten  themselves  to 
other  fishes  by  suction,  and  feed  by  scraping  off  their  flesh.  The  young 
are  without  teeth,  have  rudimentary  eyes,  and  undergo  a  metamorphosis. 

157.  THE  SEA  LAMPREY.  (Petromyzon  amertcanus). 
Body  olive  green,  mottled  with  dark  brown  ;  seven  round  gill 
openings  on  each  side.  Length  four  to  six  inches.  Cape  Cod 
to  Cape  Hatteras,  ascending  rivers. 

158.  THE  SMALL  LAMPREY.  (Ammocoetes  appendix). 
Yellowish ;  the  seven  gill  openings  are  elongated ;  the  anal  fin 
has  a  thread-like  appendix  on  its  anterior  portion.  Length 
four  to  six  inches.  Cape  Cod  to  Cape  Hatteras,  ascending 
rivers. 


Crustacea. 

159.  THE  FIDDLER  or  SOLDIER  CRAB.  (Gelasimus 
pugnax).  An  amusing  little  crab,  with  one  claw  longer  than 
the  whole  carapace.  It  lives  in  muddy  banks  and  in  ditches 
in  salt-marshes,  sometimes  in  such  numbers  that  all  around 
where  they  congregate  it  is  perfectly  honeycombed.  When  one 
crab  goes  into  the  hole  of  another  a  lively  fight  follows,  and  not 
unfrequently  a  general  commotion  takes  place,  after  which  each 
one  gets  into  the  first  hole  he  can  find.    Cape  Cod  to  Florida, 

160.  THE  ROCK  CRAB.  (Cancer  irroratus).  Larger 
than  the  preceding,  sometimes  measuring  three  or  four  inches 
across  the  shell,  and  easily  distinguished  by  having  nine  blunt 
teeth  at  the  outside  of  each  eye.  It  is  found  on  rocky  and 
6andy  shores  and  bottoms,  and  is,  like  all  the  other  species  of 
crabs,  greedily  devoured  by  many  of  the  larger  fishes,  such  as 
cod,  haddock,  tautog,  black  bass,  sharks,  and  sting- rays.  Lab- 
rador to  South  Carolina. 

161.  THE  MUD  CRAB.  (Panopeus  depressus).  A  small 
crab,  not  exceeding  two  inches  in  length,  with  a  flattened  body 
and  large,  unequal  claws  on  the  two  front  feet.  It  lives  on 
oyster-beds,  and  is  believed  to  feed  on  the  spawn  of  the  oyster. 
Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 

162.  THE  GREEN  CRAB.  (Carcinas  mamas).  This  crab 
is  found  in  abundance  on  very  different  places  along  our  coasts, 
chiefly  on  rocky,  sandy,  and  muddy  shores  and  in  brackish 


6o 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


waters.  It  is  cosmopolitan  in  its  habits,  lives  among  the  oysters 
in  muddy  places,  or  hides  itself  in  the  cavities  made  by  fiddler- 
crabs  in  the  ditches  and  streams  of  the  salt  marshes.  Our 
specimens  are  about  two  inches  long,  and  have  a  dark-green 
carapace  with  five  teeth  on  the  anterior  margin  at  the  outside  of 
each  eye.  They  are  voracious  and  dexterous,  tear  the  food  out 
of  the  claws  of  large  Hermit  crabs,  and  are  bold  enough  to  put 
one  of  their  large  claws  between  the  valves  of  different  shell- 
fishes to  pick  out  the  soft  body  from  the  interior.  Cape  Cod 
to  Florida. 

163.  THE  LADY  CRAB.  {Platyonichus  ocellatus).  This 
is  a  very  handsome  crab,  both  in  form  and  color.  Its  cara- 
pace is  almost  as  wide  as  long.  Its  eyes  are  situated  on  long 
stalks,  enabling  them  to  protrude  upward  to  the  water  when  the 
animal  is  totally  buried  in  the  sand.  "The  Lady  Crab,"  says 
Verrill,  "  is  predaceous  in  its  habits,  feeding  upon  various 
smaller  creatures,  but,  like  most  of  the  crabs,  it  is  also  fond  of 
dead  fishes  or  any  other  dead  animds.  In  some  localities  they 
are  so  abundant  that  a  dead  fish  or  shark  will,  in  a  short  time, 
be  completely  covered  with  them  ;  but  if  a  person  should  ap- 
proach they  will  all  suddenly  slip  off  backwards  and  quickly 
disappear  in  every  direction  beneath  the  sand.  After  a  short 
time,  if  everything  be  quiet,  immense  numbers  of  eyes  and  an- 
tennae will  be  gradually  and  cautiously  protruded  from  beneath 
the  sand,  and,  after  their  owners  have  satisfied  themselves  that 
all  is  well,  the  army  of  crabs  will  scon  appear  above  the  sand 
again,  and  continue  their  operations." 

Sometimes  they  are  seen  actively  swimming  near  the  surface 
of  the  water,  their  last  pair  of  feet  being  flat  and  wide  and  per- 
fectly adapted  to  this  motion.  Their  ground-color  is  white  or 
gray,  but  almost  entirely  covered  with  annular  spots  formed  by 
minute  red  and  purple  specks,  which  give  it  a  very  handsome 
appearance.    Its  length  is  six  inches.    Cape  Cod  to  Florida.  ( 

164.  THE  BLUE  or  EDIBLE  CRAB.  (Callinectes  has- 
tatus).  Like  the  Lady  Crab,  this  one  has  a  pair  of  flattened 
legs  which  it  can  use  to  good  purpose  in  swimming.  The  larger 
ones  are  commonly  found  among  the  eel-grass  on  muddy  bot- 
toms, and  in  brackish  water.  They  are  easily  distinguished 
by  their  brilliant  blue  color,  and  by  the  large,  sharp  spine  on 
each  side  of  the  carapace.  They  are  caught  in  great  numbers 
for  the  market,  those  having  recently  shed  their  shells,  the  soft- 
shelled  crabs,  being  especially  in  demand  Cape  Cod  to  Florida, 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


165.  THE  SPIDER  CRAB.  (Libim'a  canaliculate).  This 
crab  has  a  comparatively  small  carapace  and  very  long  legs,  re- 
minding one  of  the  spider.  The  larger  specimens,  sometimes 
measuring  a  foot  and  more  across  the  extended  legs,  are  very 
sluggish  in  their  movements,  and  conceal  themselves  in  mud 
and  decaying  weeds,  and  hydroids,  algae,  and  even  barnacles 
grow  on  them.  The  smaller  specimens,  when  kept  in  a  clear  tank 
where  they  cannot  conceal  themselves,  cover  their  back  with 
particles  of  ulvae,  sponge,  or  whatever  they  can  get.  They  pinch 
suitable  pieces  off  with  their  claws,  bring  it  to  their  mouth,  cover 
the  base  of  it  with  a  kind  of  glue,  and  paste  it  deliberately  on 
their  back.  Our  tanks  show  several  with  pieces  of  red  and 
gray  sponge,  green  ulvaj  and  small  shells,  and  often  we  are 
asked  by  visitors  why  wc  (?)  had  pasted  on  them  such  a  mix- 
ture of  ornaments.  From  their  habits  they  received  the  by- 
name of  "decorating  spider  crabs."    Maine  to  Florida. 

166.  THE  LONG-ARMED  HERMIT  CRAB.  (Eupagurus 
longocarpus).  This  active  and  interesting  little  crab  is  well 
known  to  sea-side  visitors  from  its  habit  of  living  in  empty 
shells,  in  order  to  protect  its  soft  hinder  parts.  It  is  very  pug- 
nacious, always  ready  to  fight  with  one  of  its  kind,  but  after  the 
first  encounter  both  retreat  as  far  as  possible  into  their  shell 
and  cover  the  aperture  with  the  large  claw.  A  remarkable  cir 
cumstance  in  their  organization  is  a  lack  of  symmetry,  or  one- 
sidedness.   Not  only  their  claws,  but  the  two  sides  of  the  whole 


62 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


body  are  unequal  in  size,  so  as  to  fit  closely  in  spiral  shells. 
They  are  found  abundantly  in  pools  near  low  water,  and  on 
muddy,  rocky,  or  sandy  bottoms  in  deep  water,  where  they  are 
eagerly  sought  by  fishes,  which  swallow  them  shell  and  alL 
Massachusetts  to  South  Carolina. 

167.  THE  SHORT-ARMED  HERMIT  CRAB.  {Eu- 
pagurus  pollicaris).  This  species  attains  a  larger  size,  and  con- 
sequently inhabits  larger  shells,  such  as  pear-snails,  natica, 
heros,  etc.  Its  claws  are  shorter  and  thicker  than  those  of 
the  long-armed  crab.  It  is  devoured  by  sharks  and  sting-rays. 
Massachusetts  to  Florida 

168.  THE  LOBSTER.  (Homarus  americanus).  It  is  very 
interesting  to  watch  the  movements  of  this  common  but 
strangely-shaped  animal,  to  observe  how  cautiously  he  ap- 
proaches a  new  inhabitant  of  the  tank,  how  carefully  he  selects 
the  safest  corner,  always  ready  to  protect  himself  by  his  huge 
shears,  and  how  suddenly  he  flaps  his  tail  and  glides  backwards 
through  the  water.  There  is  a  handsome  variety  in  one  of  the 
cement  tanks,  a  lobster  of  a  sky-blue  color  without  any  dark 
shade ;  another  variety,  entirely  scarlet,  a  present  of  Gen.  Jar- 
dine,  was  kept  for  a  few  days  in  the  same  tank.  The  latter  re- 
sembled a  boiled  lobster,  and  many  visitors  would  not  believe 
it  to  be  alive  until  they  saw  it  moving. 

These  varieties  show  that  there  are  two  colors  in  the  crust  of 
a  lobster,  blue  and  red.  Generally  the  latter  is  partly  covered 
by  the  former,  producing  a  color  that  is  neither  blue  nor  red 
Only  in  a  few  instances,  like  those  of  our  red  and  blue  speci- 
mens, does  nature  restrict  itself  to  one  color.  The  lobster  is 
caught  abundantly  on  the  coast  of  the  Northeastern  States  and 
in  the  Bay  of  Fundy. 

169.  THE?  CRAWFISH.  {Cambarus  Bartonii  and  allied 
species).  This  is  the  largest  of  freshwater  crustaceans.  It  re- 
sembles the  lobster,  except  in  its  size  and  in  some  minor  par- 
ticulars, as,  for  instance,  the  form  of  the  last  plate  of  the  tail, 
which  is  divided,  while  it  is  entire  in  the  lobster.  American 
freshwater  crustaceans,  though  numerous  in  species,  are  but 
scarce  in  number,  and  are  seldom  found  in  the  market  or  known 
as  an  article  of  food.  In  Europe  similar  crawfishes  are  regu- 
larly for  sale  in  such  months  as  are  spelled  without  an  "  r,"  the 
w^'*Hjp.«f  the  rule  that  governs  the  sale  of  oysters. 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


63 


The  crawfish  is  remarkable  for  its  mode  of  swimming.  It 
flaps  its  abdomen  (erroneously  but  usually  called  the  tail) 
against  its  breast,  and  by  this  means  swims  rapidly  backwards, 
while  it  uses  its  numerous  legs  for  forward  or  lateral  motion. 
Often  it  is  found  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  streams, 
using  occasional  pools,  or  burrowing  through  a  moist  surface  in 
order  to  reach  water  below.  It  feeds  upon  animal  matter,  both 
dead  and  alive,  and  is  so  eager  for  carrion  that  Audubon  called 
it  a  "little  aquatic  vulture." 

170.  THE  BLIND  CRAWFISH.  {Cambarus  pdlucidus). 
We  received  a  few  of  these  animals  from  the  renowned  Mam- 
moth Cave  of  Kentucky.  They  lived  for  several  months,  being 
kept  in  a  large  glass  globe,  and  though  exposed  to  the  light, 
there  was  no  perceptible  change  in  their  yellowish  gray  color. 
Their  eyes  were  seen  to  show  externally  all  the  peculiarities  of 
the  eye  of  a  crawfish,  having  a  movable  peduncle,  or  stem,  to 
the  end  of  which  a  cornea  was  attached.  But  the  microscope 
showed  this  cornea  to  be  partly  opaque  and  without  that  pe- 
culiar structure  which  enables  an  animal  to  get  distinct  optical 
impressions.  The  power  of  vision  in  these  fishes  is  lost  by 
disuse. 

171.  THE  SPINY  LOBSTER.  (Palinurus  vulgaris).  A 
native  of  Bermuda,  and  distinguished  from  the  common  lobster 
by  its  red  color,  the  spiny  carapace,  and  the  want  of  pincers 
or  shears  on  the  large  legs.  The  same  species  is  caught  on  the 
south-European  coasts  of  the  Atlantic  and  Mediterranean,  sent 
to  the  market  in  large  quantities,  and  is  as  highly  appreciated 
as  our  lobster.  The  female  carries  its  eggs  under  the  abdo- 
men, and  in  the  same  way  that  the  crawfish  and  common  lob- 
ster do,  but  the  young  are  so  different  from  the  parent  lobster, 
that  until  recently  they  were  considered  to  be  entirely  different 
animals,  and  were  described  as  glass  shrimps,  or  Phyllosoma. 

172.  THE  FLAT  LOBSTER.  {Scyllarus  aequinoxialis). 
The  body,  the  antennae,  and  the  tail  plates  are  flat  and  broad ; 
the  feet  are  very  short.  This  crab  is  very  quiet,  likes  to  bury 
itself  out  of  sight,  and  does  not  live  well  in  a  tank.  Its  color 
is  dark  red.  Length  eight  to  twelve  inches.   Bermuda  Islands. 

173.  THE  SAND  SHRIMP.  (Crangon  vulgaris).  It  is 
found  in  immense  numbers  on  sandy  flats,  in  tide  pools, 
and  on  the  sandy  bottoms  in  deeper  water.    Numerous  fishes 


64 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


feed  on  it,  such  as  the  weak-fish,  king-fish,  blue-fish,  flounder, 
striped  bass,  sea-robin,  toad-fish,  etc.  If  it  were  not  such  a 
prolific  species  it  might  be  extinguished  in  a  short  time.  In 
dangerous  places  it  buries  itself  partially  in  the  sand.  The 
appearance  of  the  sand  shrimp  in  a  tank  with  clear  water 
plainly  shows  how  the  beauty  of  an  animal  and  the  interest  it 
inspires  depends  upon  its  being  seen  in  natural  condition.  He 
who  knows  the  shrimp  only  as  he  sees  it  in  the  market-basket, 
will  hardly  believe  that  the  handsome,  transparent  creature 
with  beautiful  caudal  plates  is  naught  but  the  little,  dark  gray 
mass  of  salted  morsel  with  an  ugly  agglomeration  of  crooked 
legs  he  used  to  know  under  this  name.  It  is  found  on  both 
sides  of  the  northern  Atlantic  Ocean. 

174.  THE  SILVER-SHRIMP.  (Pandanus  annulicornis). 
Sold  for  fish-bait  in  the  New  York  markets.  It  lives  well  in 
the  tanks,  is  useful  as  a  scavenger  and  as  food  for  nearly  all 
fishes.    Northern  Atlantic. 

175.  THE  COMMON  PRAWN.  (Palamonetes  vulgaris). 
Similar  to  the  former,  but  easily  distinguished  by  its  bigger 
body  and  by  the  possession  of  a  denticulated  spine  at  the 
front.  It  is  found  in  countless  numbers  among  the  eel-grass  in 
brackish  waters,  and  on  many  other  places  from  Massachusetts 
to  the  Carolinas.    For  the  table  it  is  preferred  to  the  shrimp. 

170.  THE  LOCUST-CRAB.  (Squilla  empusa).  This  is  a 
very  peculiar  and  interesting  creature,  living  on  muddy  bot- 
toms, and  probably  burrowing  out  of  sight  for  the  larger  part 
of  the  year.  It  is  sometimes  caught  in  considerable  numbers 
among  the  ice  at  the  mouth  of  the  Hudson.  Its  length,  when 
full  grown,  is  eight  or  ten  inches.  In  our  tanks  they  swim  very 
lively  during  day-time,  bend  their  body  to  a  half  circle,  move 
their  numerous  feet  incessantly  with  astonishing  rapidity,  and 
feed  during  the  night.    Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 

177.  IDOTEA  C^ECA.  Lives  parasitic  on  fishes,  and  was 
taken  off  in  great  numbers  from  drum-fishes,  striped  bass,  and 
others.    Massachusetts  to  Florida. 

178.  LIVONECA  OVALIS.  Taken  off  the  gills  of  striped 
bass, 

179.  LERNEOLEMA  RADIATA.  Parasitic  on  moss- 
bonkers,  striped  bass,  and  other  Fshes. 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


*5 


180.  THE  BARNACLE.  {Balanus  balanoides).  This  ani- 
mal resembles  a  low,  blunt  cone  fastened  to  stones  or  shells. 
Periodically  a  small,  hardly  perceptible  bunch  of  fine  threads 
is  thrown  out  from  the  upper  end  and  quickly  drawn  back 
again.  These  threads,  which  are  twenty-four  in  number,  are 
the  divided  and  minutely  articulated  legs  of  which  the  barna- 
cle has  six  on  each  side.  By  their  movements  it  draws  water  and 
food  into  its  shell.  The  young  are  quite  different  from  the  old 
ones,  and  are  able  to  swim.  After  fastening  themselves  they 
not  only  lose  the  ability  to  swim,  but  also  the  eye,  and  thus 
constitute  an  example  of  retrograde  metamorphosis  through 
which  the  individual  loses  and  the  species  gains,  as  the  power 
of  reproduction  inheres  in  the  Barnacle  only  in  its  advanced 
condition  of  life. 


THE  HORSE-SHOE  CRAB. 


66 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


181.  THE  GOOSE-BARNACLE.  (Lepas  fascicularis). 
Found  in  Wood's  Hole  on  floating  timber.  Lived  a  short  time 
in  the  tanks. 

182.  THE  HORSE-SHOE  CRAB  or  KING-CRAB. 
(Limulus polyphemus).  Common  on  sandy  shores,  just  below 
water-mark ;  more  abundant  still  on  muddy  bottoms,  where  it 
buries  just  beneath  the  surface  and  feeds  upon  various  small 
animals.  The  upper  side  of  this  large  crab  at  first  sight  shows 
nothing  but  two  large  shields  and  a  long  spine,  the  lower  shield 
exhibiting  a  complicated  agglomeration  of  legs.  Looking 
closer,  two  large  eyes  are  found  on  the  front  shield,  and  two 
smaller  eyes  are  lying  in  front  of  them.  The  mouth,  situated 
at  the  lower  surface,  is  surrounded  by  six  pairs  of  differently 
shaped  legs,  the  claws  of  which  are  employed  to  seize  the  food 
and  conduct  it  to  their  own  basal  parts  in  order  to  be  crushed 
and  lacerated  by  them.  The  same  organs  combine  the  triple 
function  of  moving,  seizing  the  food,  and  preparing  it  for  di- 
gestion. The  hinder  part  of  the  lower  side  carries  another 
dozen  of  legs,  which  also  have  a  double  function.  They  act  as 
swimming  organs,  and  at  the  same  time  cause  a  current  of  water 
to  flow  to  the  gills. 

The  usual  motion  of  the  King-crab  is  slow  crawling ;  their 
swimming  is  awkward,  and  easily  interrupted  by  trivial  causes. 
This  accounts  for  the  frequency  with  which  they  are  found 
struggling  on  their  backs.  Their  spawning  season  is  in  June 
and  July.    They  are  found  from  Maine  to  Florida. 


Annelida. 

183.  LEPIDONOTUS  SUBLEVIS.  Found  at  Martha's 
Vineyard.    It  lives  well  in  a  tank,  but  hides  away  out  of  sight. 

184.  THE  SANDWORM.  {Nereis  pelagicd).  Sold  in  the 
market  as  fish-bait.  In  the  tanks  it  buries  out  of  sight,  feeds 
at  night,  and  is  very  destructive  to  Algae. 

185.  POT  AM  ILL  A  OCULIFERA.  Attached  to  scollop- 
shells. 

186.  EUCHONE  ELEGANS.  A  beautiful  creature,  intro- 
duced in  our  tanks  from  Wood's  Hole. 


NEW   YORK  AQUARIUM. 


187.  THE  CLINKER.  (Serpula  dianthus).  Worms  which 
surround  themselves  with  a  calcareous,  variously  crooked  tube, 
and  live  in  colonies  on  stones  and  shells.  Generally  their  red, 
comb-like  gills  protrude  from  the  opening  of  the  tube,  but  they 
quickly  draw  them  back  and  close  the  tube  with  a  hard,  pur- 
plish cover  when  they  are  frightened  by  a  knock  at  the  glass,  or 
otherwise  disturbed.  They  are  found  from  Cape  Cod  to  Great 
Egg  Harbor. 


Mollusca. 

188.  THE  EIGHT-FOOTED  POLYh  or  DEVIL-FISH. 
{Octopus  vulgaris).  We  received  several  of  these  very  interesting 
animals  from  Bermuda,  but  they  all  died  after  being  only  a  few 
days  in  the  tanks. 

Their  body  consists  of  a  large  bag,  a  small  head  with  two 
big  eyes,  and  eij;ht  long  arms  connected  with  each  other  by  an 
intermediate  skin  at  their  base.  They  breathe  by  taking  the 
water  through  z  wide  opening  at  the  base  of  the  bag  into  two 
large  gilts,  and  ejecting  it  again  through  a  short  and  thick 
siphon.  The  1  Uter  current  at  the  same  time  serves  as  the 
moving  power  c  f  the  animal. 

One  specially  attractive  feature  of  the  Devil-fish  is  the  pos- 
session of  several  hundreds  of  sucking  disks  distributed  in  two 
rows  on  each  arm.  Each  disk  is  a  short,  thick  cylinder,  the 
center  of  which  can  be  raised  so  as  to  establish  a  vacuum  be- 
tween itself  and  the  part  to  which  it  adheres.  The  sucking 
power  of  a  medium-sized  Devil-fish,  one  of  about  three  feet  in 
length,  is  large  enough  to  enable  it  to  move  stones  of  forty- 
pounds  weight.  As  the  weight  of  a  man  in  water  is  about  five 
pounds,  it  would  be  no  difficulty  for  a  large  Octopus  to  drag 
him  under  water.  The  food  of  the  Octopus  consists  of  shells, 
crustaceans,  and  occasionally  fishes.  It  surrounds  and  covers 
its  prey  with  its  arms  so  completely  as  to  prevent  even  a  large- 
sized,  healthy  lobster  from  using  its  powerful  claws. 

.  189.  THE  GIANT  DEVIL-FISH.  (Arehiteuthis  princeps). 
We  take  leave  to  insert  in  this  place  the  following  very  interest- 
ing letter  of  Prof.  A.  E.  Verrill,  the  naturalist  who  discovered 
this  species : 


68 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


Peabody  Museum  of  Yale  College, 
New  Haven,  Conn.,  Oct.  n,  i 


Messrs.  Chas.  Reiche  &  Brother, 

New  York  Aquarium. 


Gentlemen  : — Thanks  to  your  courtesy,  I  yesterday  had  an 
opportunity  to  examine  the  "  giant  squid  "  or  "  devil  fish  "  now 
preserved  in  the  New  York  Aquarium,  and  to  make  careful 
measurements  of  its  parts.  Having  made  a  special  study  of 
these  remarkable  animals  during  several  years  past,  and  having 
previously  examined  and  described  all  the  fragments  of  similar 
creatures  preserved  in  the  museums  of  this  country,  I  am  able 
to  say  that  this  is  altogether  the  largest,  most  complete,  and 
most  valuable  specimen  of  this  kind  that  has  ever  been  preserved 
either  in  this  country  or  in  Europe.  Moreover,  it  is  a  very 
rare  species,  previously  known  to  scientific  men  only  by 
the  jaws  taken  from  the  stomach  of  a  sperm  whale,  which  were 
first  described  and  figured  by  me  three  years  ago  under  the 
name  of  Architeuthis princeps.  When  first  captured  your  speci- 
men was  carefully  measured  by  my  correspondent,  the  Rev.  M. 
Harvey,  of  St.  Johns,  Newfoundland,  who,  in  a  private  letter, 
states  that  the  body  was  9^  feet  long  including  the  head,  and 
the  longest  arms  were  30  feet  in  length,  making  the  total  length 
39^  feet.  The  circumference  of  the  body  was  seven  feet.  In 
preserving  creatures  of  this  kind,  either  in  brine  or  alcohol, 
they  always  shrink  very  much  in  bulk  and  lose  most  of  their 
natural  color  and  form.  Your  specimen  having  been  brought 
to  New  York  in  brine,  and  since  its  arrival  having  been  kept  in 
strong  alcohol,  has  necessarily  contracted  considerable  in  size 
already,  and  will  probably  shrink  still  more  after  some  weeks. 
The  body,  originally  plump  and  round,  has  also  collapsed  and 
become  flat.  I  yesterday  found  that  the  long  arms  are  now  24 
feet  and  1  inch  long,  with  the  broader  terminal  portion  bearing 
the  suckers  3  feet  in  length  and  3  inches  in  breadth ;  the  larger 
suckers,  now  mostly  destroyed,  were  about  an  inch  in  diameter. 
These  suckers,  with  many  smaller  ones  along  the  borders  and  at 
the  end  of  the  arms,  were  provided  with  strong,  bony  rims  with 
the  edge  cut  into  numerous  sharp  teeth  to  prevent  the  sucker* 
from  slipping  when  applied  to  the  slippery  skin  of  the  fishes 
upon  which  they  prey.  Below  these  serrated  suckers,  and  ex- 
tending along  the  inner  surface  of  the  arms  for  sixteen  fee^ 
there  are  many  small  suckers,  with  smooth  rims,  together  with 
wart-like  tubercles  which  fit  into  the  suckers  of  the  opposite 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


69 


arms.  These  are  intended  to  fasten  the  two  long  arms  securely 
together  so  that  they  can  be  used  conjointly  and  thus  more 
effectually  secure  large  prey. 

The  longest  of  the  eight  stouter  arms  around  the  mouth  were 
originally  11  feet  long  and  17  inches  in  circumference  at  the 
base,  tapering  gradually  to  the  tips.  I  found  them  ioi  feet  long 
and  ni  inches  in  circumference.  These  arms  are  all  covered, 
along  their  inner  surface,  with  large  suckers  arranged  in  two 
rows,  and  provided  with  sharp-toothed  rims,  the  largest  being 
an  inch  in  diameter.  The  jaws  form  a  large  and  powerful  black 
beak,  shaped  like  a  parrot's,  and  capable  of  being  protruded 
beyond  the  head  when  living.  With  this  beak  they  doubtless 
instantly  kill  their  prey  when  caught  by  biting  out  a  piece  from 
the  back  of  the  neck,  thus  severing  the  spinal  cord,  as  their 
relatives,  the  small  squids,  are  known  to  do.  The  upper  jaw, 
measured  by  me,  was  5^  inches  long,  and  3  and  3 J  broad ;  the 
lower  jaw  was  3f  inches  long  and  3  J  broad.  The  upper  jaw 
shuts  into  the  lower,  unlike  the  beaks  of  birds.  It  is  practically 
impossible  to  obtain  these  giant  squids  in  a  perfect  condition, 
for  they  are  very  shy  and  very  tenacious  of  life,  and  living  en- 
tirely in  deep  water,  they  are  seldom  or  never  seen  unless  dis- 
abled. 

There  is  but  one  solitary  instance  on  record  of  a  specimen  in 
good  health  being  captured,  and  that  was  very  badly  mutilated 
by  the  fishermen  before  they  could  take  it  from  the  rocks  in 
which  it  had  accidentally  become  entangled.  That  one  was 
considerably  smaller  than  your  specimen,  and  is  now,  in  part, 
preserved  in  the  Peabody  Museum  of  Yale  College,  but  its  body 
was  entirely  destroyed.  Most  of  the  few  specimens  hitherto  seen 
have,  like  your  example,  been  found  cast  upon  the  remote 
shores  of  Newfoundland  after  severe  gales,  and  are  generally 
badly  damaged  when  found. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

A.  E.  VERRILL, 

Professor  of  Zoology  in  Yale  College. 


190.  THE  WHELK.  (Buccinum  undatum).  Dredgetl  at 
Georgias  Bank,  Mass.,  in  forty  fathoms.  It  did  not  live  well 
in  the  tanks.    The  shells  are  favorites  of  the  Hermit-crabs. 


7° 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


191.  THE  WINKLE.  {Sycotypus  canaliculars).  This  is 
one  of  the  largest  shells  on  the  eastern  coast  of  North  America, 
sometimes  measuring  seven  inches  in  length.  It  is  pear-shaped, 
and  has  a  wide  opening  which  continues  in  a  narrow  channel 
Its  eggs  are  contained  in  membranous  cases  of  about  the  size 
and  thickness  of  a  two-cent  piece,  united  together  in  a  parallel 
position  by  a  ligamentous  string  about  two  feet  in  length.  Each 
case  contains  about  two  hundred  eggs,  but  only  a  few  of  them 
develop  young  ones,  which,  when  brought  out,  in  the  first 
weeks  of  their  existence,  feed  upon  the  unmatured  eggs  of  the 
same  case.  It  is  astonishing  that  one  snail  is  able  to  produce 
such  an  enormous  quantity  of  eggs  and  cases,  the  bodily  mass 
of  which  seems  to  be  greater  than  the  body  of  the  snail  itself. 
It  is  found  from  Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 

192.  THE  LARGE  WINKLE.  (Fulgur  carica).  This  is, 
according  to  Binney,  the  largest  convoluted  shell  on  the  Atlan- 
tic coast.  It  is  found  in  company  with  the  preceding  species, 
but  less  abundantly.  Its  form  is  nearly  the  same,  but  it  can 
easily  be  distinguished  by  a  circular  series  of  triangular,  com- 
pressed tubercles  just  above  the  opening.  The  strings  of  egg- 
cases  resemble  those  of  the  former,  and  are  produced  by  the 
females  while  they  are  buried  a  few  inches  below  the  surface  of 
the  sand  between  tide-marks.  Fishermen  when  tarring  the 
seams  of  their  boats,  fill  a  Fulgur  with  hot  tar  and  use  the 
spout-like  end  of  the  shell  to  direct  the  flow  of  the  tar.  Hence 
the  local  name  of  ladle-shell.  The  animals  are  eaten  in  large 
quantities  by  negro  fishermen  back  of  Keyport,  N.  J.,  which 
locality  has  been  named  Winkletown,  from  the  fact  that  in  front 
of  each  cabin  there  are  large  accumulations  of  empty  winkle- 
shells.    It  is  found  from  Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 

193.  THE  LITTLE  WHELK.  {Ilyanassa  obsoleta).  Lives 
in  great  numbers  on  our  neighboring  coasts  and  is  very  useful 
as  a  scavenger.  It  deposits  its  egg-capsules  freely  on  the  glass, 
but  they  never  mature  there.  Hydractinia  polyclina  often 
covers  the  shells,  which  are  also  the  favorites  of  the  small  Her- 
mit-crabs. 

194.  THE  OYSTER-DRILL.  (Urosalpinx  cinerea).  Next 
to  the  starfish  this  shell  is  the  greatest  enemy  to  young  oysters 
and  clams.  It  drills  a  minute  hole  near  the  hinge  and  then 
sucks  the  animal  out.    Common  on  our  coast. 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


7* 


195.  EUPLEURA  CAUDATA.  Dredged  at  Wood's  Hole. 
Lives  well  in  the  tanks. 

196.  THE  COMMON  PURPLE.  (Purpura  lapillus).  Found 
in  Buzzard's  Bay,  Mass.,  on  rocks  between  tide-marks,  feeding 
on  barnacles.  This  shell  contains,  inside  its  mantle,  a  yellow- 
ish-white band,  of  which  a  beautiful  color  is  manufactured. 
When  exposed  to  the  sun,  it  quickly  gets  yellow,  then  green, 
blue,  and  at  last  bluish  red.  It  is  one  of  the  shells  which  fur- 
nished the  celebrated  Tyrian  purple  of  the  ancients. 

197.  THE  NAVEL-SHELL.  (Neverita  duplicate).  The 
Hermit-crabs  prefer  the  empty  Navel-shells  to  all  others.  The 
beautiful  flooded  sand-cups  cast  ashore  on  Coney  Island  in  the 
summer  season  are  the  egg-receptacles  of  this  shell ;  the  fish- 
ermen call  them  mermaid-collars.  When  placed  under  a  mag- 
nifying-glass  thousands  of  young  shells  may  be  seen  in  their 
sand-bound  cells,  propelled  by  their  rapidly  moving  cilia.  Many 
of  these  egg-receptacles  have  been  exhibited  in  the  tanks. 
Massachusetts  Bay  to  Florida. 

198.  THE  JINGLE-SHELL.  (Anemia  glabra).  Attached 
to  oysters,  scollops,  and  other  shell-fish.  They  are  resplendent 
with  a  golden  or  silvery  lustre. 

199.  THE  BOAT-SHELL.  (Crepidula  fornicata).  This 
small  shell  is  found  on  other  dead  shells  inhabited  by  Hermit- 
crabs,  or  on  oysters,  scollops,  or  winkles.  Sometimes  doz- 
ens of  them  adhere  together,  and  those  lowest  in  the  group 
cling  to  other  animals,  empty  shells,  or  pebbles.  Their  form 
resembles  that  of  a  trough  or  boat  half  covered  by  a  straight 
piece.  It  grows  an  inch  in  length,  and  is  found  in  great  num- 
bers on  gravelly  bottoms  from  Massachusetts  to  Florida. 

200.  THE  PILL-BUG  SHELL.  (Chatopleura  apiculata). 
The  shell  of  this  snail  is  composed  of  eight  movable  plates, 
and  has  the  form  of  a  trough.  It  is  found  adhering  to  stones 
and  dead  shells,  and  generally  chooses  its  place  so  well  that  the 
surroundings  are  uniform  with  its  colors,  thereby  avoiding  de- 
tection. When  detached  from  its  base  it  either  moves  with 
considerable  rapidity  through  the  water,  or  curls  itself  into  a 
ball  like  a  "  pill-bug"  (Oniscus),  or  like  an  Armadillo.  Its 
length  is  six  to  nine  inches.    Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 

201.  MONTAGUA  PILATA.  This  beautiful  mollusk  was 
introduced  into  the  tanks  on  masses  of  tube-flowers,  together 


72 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


with  clusters  of  Vorticellae,  on  which  it  fed.  At  times  it  may 
be  seen  moving  about  freely  on  the  glass.  Massachusetts  Bay 
to  Long  Island  Sound. 

202.  THE  SOFT-SHELLED  or  LONG  CLAM.  (Mya 
arenarid).  Used  extensively  as  food  north  of  New  York.  It 
is  very  interesting  to  see  the  long,  siphon-tubes  stretched  out, 
sometimes  to  the  length  of  a  foot  or  more.    They  easily  bury 

by  means  of  it  to  a  considerable  depth  beneath  the  sand.  South 
Carolina  to  the  Arctic  Ocean. 

203.  CORBULA  CONTRACTA.  Found  in  Gravesend  Bay 
and  Gowanus  Bay,  L.  I.,  attached  to  muscles  and  tube-flowers. 

204.  CLIDIOPHORA  TRILINEATA.  Dredged  at  Gay 
Head,  Mass.    It  lives  well  in  a  tank. 

205.  THE  RAZOR-FISH  or  KNIFE-HANDLE.  {En- 
satella  americana).  This  fish  inhabits  a  very  long  and  narrow 
shell,  the  front  and  back  of  which  is  parallel  and  slightly  curved, 
the  surface  smooth  and  yellowish-green.  The  animal  itself  is  still 
longer  than  the  shell,  so  that  the  foot  projects  on  one  end,  the  two 
short  siphons  on  the  other.  It  is  found  on  a  sandy  bottom 
where  the  water  is  clear.  There  it  constructs  a  burrow  of  two 
or  three  feet  deep,  and  rests  at  the  upper  end  of  it,  keeping  the 
orifices  of  the  siphons  in  water.  Sometimes,  owing  to  the  tide, 
it  is  left  behind,  projecting  one  or  two  inches  above  the  ground. 
If  cautiously  approached  it  then  may  safely  be  drawn  out  with  a 
sudden  jerk,  but  once  out  of  sight  it  is  safe  from  capture,  being 
able  to  penetrate  the  sand  quicker  than  it  can  be  followed.  Its 
length  is  from  four  to  six  inches.    Labrador  to  Florida. 

206.  THE  SEA-,  SURF-  or  SKIMMER-CLAM.  (Mactra 
solidissima).  This  is  a  very  large  shell,  sometimes  more  than 
six  inches  long  and  four  or  five  inches  broad.  The  smaller 
ones  are  well-flavored  and  extensively  used  for  the  dinner 
table.  It  got  the  name  of  Skimmer-clam  from  the  Dutch  set- 
tlers, who  used  to  skim  the  milk  with  their  shells.  It  lives  on 
sandy  shores,  below  low-water  ma*k,  from  Labrador  to  North 
Carolina. 

207.  THE  ROUND,  HARD  or  QUAHOG-CLAM.  (  Venus 
mercenaria).  Found  in  enormous  quantities  on  sandy  shores, 
but  chiefly  on  sandy  and  muddy  flats,  just  beyond  low-water 
mark.    Millions  of  them  are  sold  in  the  markets,  mostly  coming 


NEW   YORK  AQUARIUM. 


n 


from  muddy  estuaries  and  having  a  rough,  thick,  dull-white,  or 
mud-stained  shell ;  those  from  sandy  shores  are  thinner,  more 
delicate,  often  with  high,  thin  ribs,  especially  when  young  ;  some 
varieties  are  handsomely  marked  with  angular,  or  zigzag  lines 
or  streaks  of  red  or  brown  (var.  ?iotatd).  They  are  well  adapted 
to  bury,  having  a  large,  muscular  foot  with  a  broad,  thin  edge 
that  can  be  moved  at  any  part  of  the  ventral  side.  Massachu- 
setts Bay  to  Florida. 

208.  THE  IRISH  CUAHOG.  (Argina pexata).  Dredged 
at  Tarpaulin  Cove,  Mass.  It  is  a  beautiful  shell  with  bright 
red  gills  and  mantle. 

209.  THE  COMMON  MUSCLE.  {Mytilus  edulis).  Com- 
mon on  all  neighboring  coasts  and  sold  in  the  New  York  and 
Boston  markets.  It  is  found  attached  by  means  of  byssus- 
threads  to  timber  and  rocks.  In  the  Baltic  Ocean  and  on  the 
French  coasts  it  is  extensively  cultivated. 

210.  MODIOLA  MODIOLUS.  A  handsome  muscle,  dredged 
at  Wood's  Hole,  Mass.  It  has  the  habit  of  putting  out  its  foot 
and  reaching  fragments  of  stones  and  algae  to  attach  itself. 

211.  MODIOLA  PLICATULA.  Found  in  neighboring 
creeks  in  brackish  water.    It  lives  well  in  a  tank. 

212.  MODIOLA RI A  NIGRA.  A  large,  showy  muscle, 
dredged  at  Cape  Cod.    The  Sea-squirts  live  on  them. 


218.  THE  SCOLLOP.  (Pecten  irradians).  The  shell  is 
orbicular,  with  an  angular  appendage  for  the  hinge,  and  about 
twenty  rounded  ribs,  which  give  it  a  comb-like  appearance.  Its 
color  is  varying,  mostly  dusky  horn,  with  white,  yellowish,  or 
reddish  bands,  very  pleasing  to  the  eye,  and  making  the  shell 
of  use  for  ornamental  purposes. 


74 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


A  peculiar  feature  of  the  Scollop  is  its  dancing  movement 
when  alarmed.  This  is  performed  by  opening  and  energetically- 
closing  its  valves ;  and  continuing  these  movements,  and  thus 
periodically  expelling  the  water  from  the  gill-cavity,  it  is 
sent  upwards  or  along  the  surface  of  the  water.  When  it  rests 
in  safety,  it  sends  out  two  rows  of  numerous,  tapering  papillae, 
or  tentacles,  and  between  them  there  may  be  observed  a  num- 
ber of  handsome,  bright  silvery,  or  bluish  eyes,  sparkling  with 
a  brilliancy  equal  to  the  brightest  jewels.  The  Scollop  is 
found  in  abundance  in  many  localities,  particularly  in  sheltered, 
muddy  places,  from  Cape  Cod  to  Florida.  The  large  and  pow- 
erful central  muscle  is  sold  in  the  markets,  and  considered  by 
many  persons  as  an  excellent  article  of  food. 


TUNICATA. 

214.  MOLGULA  MANHATTENSIS.  Found  in  Graves- 
end  Bay  attached  to  ulva.  It  lives  well  in  confinement,  even 
in  self-supporting  tanks. 

215.  BOTRYLLUS  GOULDII.  A  beautiful  and  interest- 
ing creature,  found  in  Gravesend  Bay,  growing  on  Zostera 
marina.    It  lives  well  in  confinement. 


ECHINODERM  ATA. 

216.  STRONGYLOCENTROTUS  DROBACHIENSIS. 
Common  in  deep  water ;  does  not  live  well  in  a  tank. 

217.  THE  PURPLE  SEA-URCHIN.  (Arbacia  punctu- 
latd).  A  small  species  with  rather  stout  and  long  purplish 
spines  placed  upon  a  hard,  rounded  shell  composed  of  many 
plates.  It  moves,  like  a  star-fish,  by  suckers  which  protrude 
through  small  holes  in  the  shell.  The  mouth,  situated  in  the 
center  of  the  lower  side,  has  five  very  large,  hard  teeth  con- 
nected with  a  peculiar  organ  resembling  a  fancy  lantern  called 
the  lantern  of  Aristotle.  It  feeds  upon  vegetables,  such  as  dia- 
toms and  other  small  algae ;  but  is  also  fond  of  dead  fishes, 
which  it  devours  bones  and  all.  It  is  found  from  Vineyard 
Sound  to  the  West  Indies. 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


75 


218.  THE  SAND  DOLLAR.  (Echinarachnius  parmd). 
Found  on  sandy  bottoms  around  Long  Island.  It  lived  a  short 
time  in  our  tanks. 


219.  THE  GREEN  STAR-FISH.  (Asterias  arenicola). 
As  in  most  of  the  other  Echinoderms  the  different  parts  of  its 
body  are  repeated  five  times.  It  has  five  arms,  and  five  times 
four  rows  of  sucking-feet  in  their  inferior  furrows.  It  has  five 
eyes,  situated  at  the  tips  of  the  arms.  Its  nervous  system  con- 
sists of  five  longitudinal  strings,  connected  in  a  ring  round  the 
central  mouth,  and  there  are  five  lines  of  blood-vessels,  and  an 
equal  number  of  intestines  and  ovaries. 

,  This  Star-fish  is  found  in  large  numbers  among  the  rocks  at 
the  bottom  of  the  sea,  especially  where  shell-fish,  on  which  it 
feeds,  are  abundant.  It  is  very  destructive  to  oyster-beds, 
clinging  to  the  oyster  with  its  suckers  somewhat  after  the  man- 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


ner  of  the  Octopus.  Its  mode  of  eating  is  singular.  Covering 
the  soft  parts  of  whatever  is  selected  for  its  food,  it  turns  the 
digestive  sac  inside  out,  and  proceeds  at  leisure  to  suck  the  ani- 
mal from  its  shell.  The  color  of  this  species  is  dark  brownish 
green,  with  a  small  orange  disk  near  the  center  of  the  upper 
side.  Its  diameter  is  about  five  inches.  It  is  found  from  Mas- 
sachusetts Bay  to  Florida. 

220.  THE  GIGANTIC  STAR-FISH.  {Oreaster  gigas). 
A  large  and  splendid  animal.  Its  orange-colored  body  is  high 
in  the  center,  and  its  surface  is  covered  with  prominent  warts. 
Further,  there  are  numerous  small  pores,  through  which  short, 
slender,  transparent  tubes  stick  out,  acting  as  respiratory 
organs.    Our  specimens  came  from  Florida. 


ACALEPHJE. 

221.  THE  TUBE-FLOWERS.  (Eudendriunt  dispar  and 
ramosum).  These  are  colonies  of  little  polyps  of  a  plant-like 
appearance.  The  individuals  occupy  the  ends  of  the  branches. 
When  examined  closely  with  a  magnifying-glass,  they  are  found 
to  possess  two  circles  of  slender,  transparent  tentacles.  By 
means  of  poisonous  lasso-cells  they  kill  small  animals,  take 
them  into  a  cavity  below  the  center  of  the  tentacles,  and  send 
the  nutritious  matter  through  the  whole  colony.  Sometimes 
small  buds  are  seen  at  the  base  of  the  exterior  tentacles ;  these 
are  young  ones,  who  soon  detach  themselves,  swim  around  a 
short  while,  and  at  last  settle  on  stones  to  give  origin  to  new 
colonies. 


Polyps  or  Anthozoa. 

Cylindrical  animals  with  an  opening  (the  mouth)  in  the  center  of  the 
tipper  end.  This  mouth  is  surrounded  by  six,  eight,  or  many  more  hol- 
low tentacles  which  are  used  to  seize  the  food.  As  soon  as  the  food 
reaches  the  mouth,  it  is  pressed  down  into  a  central,  longitudinal  bag, 
or  tube  (the  stomach),  where  it  is  retained  and  digested.  This  having 
been  completed  the  nutritious  matter  passes  through  the  lower,  open  end 
of  the  stomach  into  the  cavity  of  the  body  and  thence  upwards  into  the 
space  between  the  walls  of  the  stomach  and  body.  This  space  is  divided 
by  radiating  partitions  into  many  longitudinal  sections  or  tubes,  which 
rontinue  into  the  hollow  of  one  or  several  tentacles.    The  nutritious 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


77 


matter  can,  as  it  will  easily  be  understood,  reach  the  summit  of  every 
tentacle. 

The  Polyps  either  live  singly  or  in  colonies,  in  which  latter  case  they 
form  the  coral  reefs.  The  former  are  larger,  but  both  display  a  won- 
drous beauty  of  form  and  color. 


222.  THE  FRINGED  SEA-ANEMONE.  (Metridium  mar- 
ginatum). This  is  the  most  common  among  the  Polyps  of  North 
America.  It  is  easily  distinguished  by  the  soft,  plumy,  tentacu- 
lar fringes  that  surround  the  disk.  When  contracted,  it  looks  like 
a  mere  lump  of  brownish  or  whitish  jelly,  but  when  expanded 
and  erect  it  shows  such  grace  and  beauty  as  to  attract  general 
attention.  "  From  the  extended  base,"  says  Prof.  Verrill,  "  the 
body  rises  in  the  form  of  a  tall,  smooth  column,  sometimes 
cylindrical,  sometimes  tapering  slightly  to  the  middle,  and  then 
enlarging  to  the  summit.  Toward  the  top  the  column  is  sur- 
rounded by  a  circular,  thickened  fold,  above  which  the  charac- 
ter of  the  surface  suddenly  changes,  the  skin  becoming  thinner 
and  translucent,  so  that  the  internal  radiating  partitions  are 
visible  through  it.  This  part  expands  upward  and  outward  to 
the  margin,  which  is  folded  into  numerous  deep  undulations  or 
frills,  and  everywhere  covered  with  very  numerous,  fine,  short, 
crowded  tentacles."  Its  color  varies  from  pure  white  through 
yellow,  orange,  and  pink  to  dark  brown. 


THE  FRINGED  SEA-ANEMONE. 


7S 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


When  a  Sea-anemone  slowly  glides  along  the  surface  of  a 
rock  or  glass  wall,  it  often  leaves  small  particles  of  its  body  be- 
hind. These  generally  assume  the  form  of  warts,  and  in  about 
eight  days  send  out  very  thin  and  transparent  tentacles.  Be- 
sides this  manner  of  reproduction  the  Sea-anemone  propagates 
by  division  or  through  eggs. 

223.  THE  WHITE-ARMED  ANEMONE.  (Sagartia 
leucolend).  A  small  species,  with  a  slender,  pale  flesh-colored, 
translucent,  and  usually  whitish  body,  with  numerous  tentacles. 
Cape  Cod  to  North  Carolina. 


224.  THE  STOUT- ARMED  ANIMAL  FLOWER.  (Tatlia 
crassicornis).  This  is  the  largest  and  brightest  of  the  North 
American  Polyps.  It  is  found  also  on  the  European  coasts.  Its 
body  and  disk  (the  flat  upper  end  of  the  animal)  is  beautifully 
marked  with  red  or  brown  stripes,  between  which  the  stout 
tentacles  arise.  It  feeds  on  muscles  and  small  fishes,  and 
sometimes  attacks  animals  which  are  too  vigorous  to  remain 
its  victim.  If  the  body  suddenly  contracts,  the  water  is  ejected 
through  small  openings  at  the  tip  of  its  tentacles.  Sometimes 
a  white,  folded  skin  is  seen  on  top  of  its  disk ;  this  is  the 
stomach  thrown  out  in  order  to  be  emptied  and  cleaned. 

225.  THE  BERMUDA  ANEMONES.  There  are  three 
species  of  them  in  the  Aquarium  not  yet  identified.    One  of 


NEW  YORK  AQUARIUM. 


79 


them  is  small,  and  dark  purplish  red ;  the  second  has  a  grayish 
white  body  covered  with  red  warts,  the  tentacles  being  light 
colored  with  red  tips  ;  the  third  is  translucent  so  as  to  show  the 
internal,  radiating  partitions  very  clearly,  and  has  short  tenta- 
cles forming  a  beautiful  fringe  around  the  large  disk. 


220.  THE  NEW  ENGLAND  CORAL.  {Astrangia  Dance). 
This  in  the  only  true  coral  yet  discovered  on  the  coast  of  New 
England.  Its  colonies,  which  are  found  clinging  to  little  frag- 
ments of  rocks  in  sheltered  creeks  and  inlets,  consist  of  a 
small  number  of  comparatively  large  individuals,  each  about 
two-thirds  of  an  inch  in  height.  They  are  whitish  and  translu- 
cent ;  their  tentacles  are  thickly  covered  with  small  warts  con- 
sisting of  clusters  of  lasso-cells.  The  interior  of  a  lasso-cell 
consists  of  a  kind  of  poisonous  fluid  and  a  long,  coiled-up 
bristle,  which  darts  out  and,  with  its  numerous  sharp  points  and 
hooks,  fastens  itself  to  such  small  worms  or  crustaceans  as 
are  within  reach.  The  lime  secreted  by  them  is  only  found  at 
the  base  of  the  animal,  and  consists  of  a  disk,  with  interior, 
radiating,  low  walls,  the  production  of  the  fleshy  base  and  par- 
titions. 


Sponges. 

227.  THE  RED  SPONGE.  {Microciona  proliferd).  A 
beautiful,  dark  red,  or  orange  red  species,  which,  when  young, 
incrusts  the  surface  of  stones  and  shells,  but  at  a  later  period 
rises  to  irregular  lobes  with  many  repeatedly  divided,  slender 
branches.  It  consists  of  stout  horny  fibres  radiating  from  the 
center  to  the  periphery,  and  terminating  in  irregular  papillae, 
which  are  the  bearers  of  spiculae.  Cape  Cod  to  South  Carolina. 


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INDEX. 


NO. 

Alligator   17 

Anemonse   220-223 

Angel-fish   53-55 

"     Long  Island   74 

Angler    79 

Architeuthis   189 

Axolotl   23 

Balloon-fish   141 

Barnacle   180 

Bass,  Black  Fresh-water   41 

M    Black  Sea    34 

M    Fresh-water   40 

"    Red   67 

"    Striped   32 

Bellows-fish   79 

Bergall   90 

Black-fish   89 

Blind-fish   115 

Blow-fish   139 

Blue-fish   76 

Boat-shell   199 

Botryllus   215 

Carp     118 

Cat-fishes   102-105 

Chubsucker   117 

Clam   202,  206,  207 

Clidiophora  ,   204 

Clinker   187 

Cod-fish. ...    92 

Codling   96,  97 

Conger-eel   83 

Coral    224 

Corbula   203 

Coui   8 

Cow-fish   137 

Cow-pilot   87 

Crabs   159-167 

Cramp-fish   150 

Craw-fish   169,  170 

Cuahog,  Irish   208 

Cuckold   138 

Cunner   90 

Dace    11 2-1 14 

Devil-fish   188,189 

Doctor-fish   84 

Dog-fish,  Fresh-water   142 

"       picked   149 

"       smooth   147 

Dollar-fish   71 


Dolphin. . 
Drum-fish 

Eel.  

Eel-pout  

Euchore  

Eupleura. ... 

File-Fish.  . . 
Fishing-frog 

Flasher  

Flounder 
Flying  Robin 
Four-eyed  fish 
Frog,  horned 

Gar-pike 
Ghost-fish 
Glass-snake 

Gold-fish  

Goose  Barnacle 
Goose-fish 
Gourami 
Grouper. 
Grunt. . . 
Gurnard. 

Haddock 

Hamlet  

Harvest-fish 
Hellbender 
Hermit-crab 

Hind  

Hippopotamus 
Hog-fish 
Horse-crevalle* 
Horse-fish 
Horse-shoe  Crab 


I  dote  a.  

Jingle-shell 

Killi-fish 
King-crab 
King-fish 
Kingiyo . 

Lafayette-fish 
Lamper-eel 

Lamprey  

Lepidonotis 


82 


INDEX. 


NO. 

Lemeolema   179 

Livoneca                                          . .  178 

Lobster   168 

11      flat   172 

41      spiny   171 

Locust-crab   176 

Maray   130, 131 

Margate-fish   46 

Modiola   210,  211 

Modiolaria   212 

Molgr.la   214 

Monkey-fish   75 

Monk-fish   79 

Montagua   201 

Moon-fish  56 

Mossbonker   127 

Mud  Puppy   26 

Mullet   86 

Muscle    209 

Muskallunge   110 

Navel-shell   197 

Nereis   184 

Octopus   188 

Oyster-drill   194 

Perch   31 

Pickerel   111 

Pike    1 09-1 12 

"  Wall-eyed   33 

Pill-bug  shell   200 

Pilot-fish. . .    69 

Pipe-fish   132 

Pollock   95 

Porcupine-fish   140 

Porgee   50,  51 

Potamilla.   185 

Prawn   175 

Proteus   25,  26 

Puffer   139 

Purple   196 

Ray   150-156 

Razor-fish   205 

Remora   70 

River-horse   1 

Roach   123 

Rock-fish   37 

Rudder-fish   77 

Rusty  Dab    100 

Salamander   20-22 

Salmon.    108 

Sand-dollar   ...  218 

Sargo     50 

Scheltopusik   19 

Scollop   213 


NO. 

Sculpin.   57-59 

Sea-devil   79 

Sea-horse   133 

Sea-raven   57 

Sea-robin   61 

Sea-urchin   216-218 

Sea-wolf.   8x 

Seal   2,  3 

Sergeant-major   87 

Serpula   187 

Shad     128 

Shark   146--149 

Sheepshead   49 

Sheepshead  Lebias   113 

Shiner   X26 

Shrimp   173-175 

Silver-bream   48 

Skate..    150-156 

Slippery  Dick   gi 

Snapper   39 

Sole   101 

Sponge   225 

Squeteague   68 

Squirrel   30 

Star-fish   219,220 

Stickleback   27-29 

Stink-pot   18 

Strongylocentrus   216 

Stumpfoot     19 

Sturgeon   144,  145 

Sucker   116 

Sucker-fish   70 

Sun-fish   42 

Tautog.    89 

Telescopic-fish   121 

Tench   125 

Terrapin   11 

Thread-fish   74 

Toad-fish   78 

Tom-cod   93 

Tortoise   7-14 

Triangular  Fish   138 

Triple-tail   47 

Trout   106,107 

Turbot,  Bermuda   134 

"      spotted     98 

Tube-flower  . .  219 

Turtle   12-16 

Walking-fjsh   80 

Weak-fish   68 

Whelk.   190,  193 

White  Whale   6 

Winkle   191,  192 

Wry-mouth   82 

Yellow  Mackerel   73 

Yellow-tail   38 


PUBLISHERS  DEPARTMENT. 


THE  AQUARIUM  GUIDE. 

It  is  with  great  pleasure  that  the 


REMINGTON  So  CO. 

To  shoot  or  not  to  shoot  1' 


-If  that 


Publishers  present  to  the  public  the  is  the  question,  and  the  thing  to  be 
second  edition  of  The  Aquarium 'shot  (or  shot  at)  is  fair  game,  stand 
Guide.  It  has  proven  itself  as  conn-  not  upon  the  order  of  deciding,  but 
dently  expected,  a  valuable  aid  to  the|g0  at  once  to  Remington's  for  your 
«niovment  of  visitors  to  the  popular  shootine-  irnn 


enjoyment  of  visitors  to  the  popul 
New  York  Aquarium  ;an  excellent  man- 
ual of  Piscatology;  a  means  of  assis- 
tance to  students  in  Natural  History, 
and  a  valuable  medium  for  the  use  of 
business  men  desiring  to  reach  a  select 
class  of  buyers  in  almost  all  depart- 
ments of  business. 

In  again  calling  attention  to  the  ad- 
vertising department  of  the  Guide, 
the  Publishers  would  reitirate  their 
purpose  to  admit  only  approved  ad- 
vertisements from  the  best  houses,  in 
the  hope  thus  to  make  this  depart 
ment  of  real  service  to  the  thousands 
of  readers  whom  they  are  privileged 
to  address. 

ATTENTION 

Is  asked  to  the  following  notices  of 
houses,  whose  extended  announcement 
will  be  found  in  other  places. 

ANDERSON,  MERCHANT  &  CO. 

We  have  never  seen,  except  in  Eng- 
land, a  display  of  Art  Tiles  for  house- 
hold decoration,  to  be  compared  with 
that  exhibited  by  Anderson,  Merchant 
&  Co,  Every  one  interested  in  chaste 
art  designs  for  house  ornamentation 
will  enjoy  a  treat  "without  money 
and  without  price,"  by  visiting  this 
superb  collection  which  embraces  the 
widest  range,  from  Tiles  which  cost  a 
trifle,  to  the  most  elaborate  and  ex- 
pensive in  workmanship  and  design. 

TIFFANY  So  CO. 

A  house  which  has  carried  off  the 
palm  for  artistic  excellence  and  ele- 
gance in  their  special  department  of 
manufacture,  in  competition  with  the 
Whole  world, needs  no  other  enconium 
It  is  enough  to  call  attention  to  the 
inducements  offered  to  buyers. 


shooting  iron. 

ABM.  BOGARDUS. 

44  Like  dew  of  dawn,  or  early  hopes 
Do  well  loved  faces  fade  and  fail 
Away  and  leave  but  memries  faint  behind." 

A  fact  so  sadly  true  that  it  is  not 
strange  that  Art  is  called  upon  to  fix 
and  hold  the  semblance  of  those  we 
love.  In  the  useful  art  of  helping 
love  to  preserve  its  treasures,  there  is 
no  more  perfect  adept  than  the  man 
whose  name  has  been  a  household  word 
for  a  quarter  of  a  century. 

S.  J.  PARDESSUS  So  CO. 

House  Gardening,  and  window  gar- 
dening are  only  begining  to  attract 
merited  attention  as  a  mean  of  mak- 
ing home  delightful  in  winter  time. 
Pardessus  &  Co.,  have  brought  to 
perfection  the  art  of  arranging  ••  [em- 
eries" in  connection  with  their  scien- 
tific appliances.  Their  ventilating 
glass  domes  for  houses, are  also  worthy 
of  general  adoption. 

HOLLERBACH  So  DIEFFENBACH. 

Artistic  excellence,  and  moderate 
cost,  are  the  two  things  chiefly  to  be 
desired  in  the  matter  of  picture  fram- 
ing, cornices,  &c,  &c,  H.  &  D.,  one  of 
the  oldest,  largest  and  best  establish- 
ments in  the  city, have  the  reputation  of 
great  success  in  these  two  respects. 

COWPERTHWAIT  So  CO. 

Who  has  not  heard  of  this  old  and 
reliable  establishment?  We  need  only 
remind  our  readers  that  when  they  are 
in  need  of  anything  that  C.  &  Co., 
have  to  offer,  they  will  do  well  to  in- 
spect their  vast  stock  before  buying. 


HARPER  BROTHERS  &  CO. 

In  the  whole  history  of  periodical 
literature,  there  is  no  instance  of  such 
long  continued  and  increasing  success 
as  has  been  achieved  by  the  popular 
publications  of  Harper  Brothers  &  Co. 
This  success  can  be  accounted  for 
only  on  the  ground  of  superior  excel- 
lence, which  is  the  certain  means 
in  the  long  run  of  winning  public 
favor.  The  promise  of  their  periodi- 
cals for  1879,  is  fully  up  to  the  average 
of  the  past,  which  is  all  that  need  be 
said  in  the  way  of  commendation. 

WILLIAM  H.  MILLER. 

A  prominent  Art  Connoisseur  is  our 
authority  for  saying  that  fine  Crayons 
are  dividing  favor  with  oil  paintings 
among  those  seeking  portraits  of 
themselves,  or  their  friends.  After  an 
examination  of  the  very  excellent 
work  of  Mr.  Miller,  we  are  not  sur- 
prised that  this  is  the  case.  Certainly 
no  one  can  desire  more  artistic  or 
pleasing  likenesses,  and  the  cost  is 
largely  in  favor  of  the  Crayons. 

G.  GUNTHER. 

The  fine,  assortment  of  bird  cages 
exhibited  at  Gunther's  old  headquar- 
ters,  is  worthy  of  inspection,  Noth- 
ing is  wanting  in  "  architecture "  or 
materials,  and  prices  are  reasonable. 

CHAS.  SCRIBNER  k  CO. 

"We  ask  special  attention  to  the  pros- 
pectus of  Scribner's  Monthly  and  St. 
Nicholas.  Those  proposing  to  make 
a  gift  to  a  friend,  old  or  young,  can 
not  make  a  mistake  if  their  choice 
falls  upon  either  of  the  above  named 
magazines.  Scribner's  Monthly  is  al- 
ways full  to  overflowing  with  the  very 
best  of  good  things,  and  our  boys  and 
girls  never  tire  of  perusing  the  pages 
of  that  best  of  Journals,  St.  Nicholas 

HIRSHKIND  PARSER  &  CO. 

This  house  has  a  reputation  for  sell- 
ing a  class  of  made  up  goods  equal  in 
all  respect  to  custom  made  work. 
Their  stock  of  clothing  comprises 
everything  that  can  be  desired. 


MURRAY  FERRIS?  &  CO. 

All  those  who  do  not  buy;  Browns 
Weather  Strips  (as  well  as  those  who 
do)  will  be  anxious  to  learn  of  the  very 
best  way  of  getting  to  the  warm  cli- 
mate of  the  Bahamas,  or  Florida. 
Murray  Ferris  &  Co  can  give  them  all 
desired  information. 

SIDELL  Sc  BRUNS. 

Do  pnot  pretend  to  be  Philanthro- 
pists they  are  merchants  by  profession 
but  if  Philanthrophy  consists  in  pro- 
tecting the  '-human  form  divine  from 
the  blighting  touch  of  the  "Kerosene 
Fiend"  then  Sidell  &  Bruns,  alias 
Diamond  Light  Oil,  are  doing  a  Phil- 
anthropoic  thing. 

J.  W.  FISEE. 

The  warerooms  of  some  New  York 
.Merchants,  are  worth  visiting  simply 
\s  exhibitions.  Among  such  is  the  im- 
mense establishment  of  J.  W.  Fiske 
He  offers  for  inspection  the  choicest 
assortment  of  ornamental  iron  ware 
goods,  Bronze  Statuary,  House,  Sta- 
ble, and  Aquaria  furnishings  &c  that 
can  be  found  in  the  city. 

xVES  PATENT  LAMP  CO. 

The  writer  of  these  notes  (who  is 
not  a  solictor  of  advertisements')  can 
speak  of  the  character  of  the  goods  off- 
ered by  the  Ives  Co.  from  personal  in- 
spection, and  he  can  assure  those  in 
need  of  kerosene  burning  lamps  of 
whatever  kind  that  they  can  find  no 
better  stock  to  select  from.  Their 
**  Argand  Stove  "  is  the  best  thing  yet 

BASSFORD  &  CO. 
As  long  as  the  big  tea  pot  on  the 
corner  of  8th  Street  and  Fourth  Ave- 
nue lifts  itself  proudly  to  public  view  it 
is  safe  to  conclude  that  Bassf ord  "holds 
the  fort,"  and  we  verily  believe  he 
does,  a  fort  whose  inside  walls  are 
piled  high  with  all  that  can  tempt 
money  from  a  housekeepers  pocket — 
things  useful,  ornamental,  and  cheap. 

W.  H.  BROWNING. 

Is  highly  commended  by  those  for 
j whom  he  has  executed  contracts  fa 
{ornamental  and  plain  cement  work. 


BROWNS  METALLIC  WEATHER  STRIPS 

Those  swaggering  blustering  fellows 
February  and  March,  with  their  in- 
quisitive ways  and  unwelcome  visits, 
will  soon  pay  us  their  respects  Instead 
of  running  away  to  Florida  barricade 
with  Browns  defensive  strips  and  snap 
your  fingers  at  them. 

EUGENE  BLACKFORD. 

Connoisseurs  (who  ought  to  know) 
assure  us  that  The  Fish  Man  of  New 
York,  is  Blackford  this  also  was  the 
verdict  at  the  Centennial  Exihibition. 


E.  WALKER  &  SONS. 
Every  educated  person  should  be  & 
subscriber  to  one  or  both  of  the  Mag- 
azines advertised  in  this  edition  of  the 
Aquarium  Guide  and  every  subscriber 
will  want  his  or  her  Magazines  bound 
at  the  years  end.  For  this  and  all  other 
binding  go  to  Walker  &  Sons. 

REICHE  &  BROS. 

Next  in  interest  to  the  display  at  the* 
Aquarium,  to  those  who  are  fond  of 
studying  the  natural  history  of  an- 
imals, is  the  display  exhibited  gratis  in 
the  large  establishment  advertised  on 
the  back  of  the  Aquarium  Guide. 


The  Atheneum  Publishing*  House. 

Publishers  of  Books,  Pamphlets,  Exhibition  Guides,  Illustrated  Publics 
tions,  Musical  works,  Trade  Catalogues  &c. 

Contracts  made  with  Authors  for  Printing  their  works  on  most  Liberal 
Terms, 

Work  done  in  every  branch  of  Printing,  Engraving,  and  Lithographing,  in 
the  best  manner  and  at  low  prices. 
We  offer  some  choice  and  cheap  Gift  books  at  Very  Low  Prices. 
Bend  or  call  for  a  list  of  our  Publications. 

252  Broadway  N.  Y, 


ROGER'S 

STATUARY. 


$10  and  upwards. 
"THE 

Photograph" 


Price,  $15  for  the  Pair. 

Illustrated  Catalogues  may  be  had  on  applica- 
tion, or  will  be  mailed  by  enclosing  10  ets.  to 

JOHHST  EOGER8, 
1155  BROADWAY,  NEW  YORK,  Corner  27th  Street 


Messrs.  Tiffany  &  Co. 

UNION  SQUARE, 

Invite  an  inspection  of  the 
most  extensive  and  varied  col- 
lection of  artistic  and  useful 
goods  they  have  ever  shown, 
including  many  articles  of  their 
manufacture  similar  to  those 
displayed  at  Paris,  which  have 
attracted  admiring  attention 
throughout  Europe,  and  won 
the  supreme  awards  of  the 
Grand  Prize  and  the  Cross  of 
the  Legion  of  Honor  at  the 

EXPOSITION  UNIVERSELLE. 

TIFFANY  6l  CO'S  "Blue  Book"  fop  1878-79,  containing 
lists  of  articles  fop  presents,  with  prices,  is  sent  to  any  address 
on  request. 

TIFFANY  &  CO., 

UNION   SQUARE,  NEW  YORK. 


1879. 

HARPER'S  PERIODICALS 

Harper's  Magazine,  I  year,  $4  The  3  Publications,  I  year,  $10 
Harper's  Weekly,  "  4  Any  2,  I  year,  -  -  7 
Harpers's  Bazar,   •     "      4|6  Subscriptions,  f  yr.  -  20 

The  Monthly  Is  the  American  Magazine  alike  in  literature  and  in  art.  Harper's 
Weekly,  the  Eclipse  of  the  course,  being  incomparably  ahead  of  all  similar  publications, 
and  leaving  competition  out  of  sight.  The  Bazar  is  the  organ  of  the  world  of  fashion, 
and  of  society  generally.— Boston  Traveller. 


Remittances  should  be  made  by  Post-Office  Money  order  or  Draft,  to  avoid  chance  of 
toss. 

Address:  HAEPER  &  BEOTHEES,  franklin  Square,  New  York. 

PORTRAITS  OF  /RUSTIC  EXCELLENCE 

  AT   

VERY  MODERATE  PRICES. 

—   «HK»  

^V.    II.  MILLEK, 

ARTIST* 

242  LOEIMER  ST.  near  Grand,  Brooklyn,  E.  D. 

Portraits  enlarged  from  Photo-Cards,  Tin-  Tps, 
Daguerreotypes,  &c, 

ENTIRE  SATISFACTION  WARRANTED. 

A  critical  comparison  is  desired  between  the  Crayon 
portraits  by  Mr.  Miller,  and  others  of  the  greatest  preten- 
sion, and  most  extravagant  cost. 

When  desired,  the  artist  will  call  at  the  residence  of 
parties  to  receive  their  orders.  A  postal  card  appointing 
day  and  hour,  directed  as  above  will  receive  prompt  atten- 
tion. 

Specimen  of  Crayons  may  be  seen  at  Hatch's  Druo 
Store,  corner  of  4th  Avenue  and  20th  Street,  and  at  the 
following  Picture  Frame  stores  where  orders  may  be  left. 
John  Hewlett,  5146th  Avenue,  near  31st  St.  Mulcahy 
&  Hughes,  649  6th  Avenue.  Mackenzie,  cor.  of  Grand  and 
Pitt  Sts.    Chas.  Rode,  Grand,  near  5th  St.,  Brooklyn,  E.D. 

A  Liberal  Deduction  in  favor  of  Clubs  and  Families,  when 
application  is  made  in  the  Summer  Season. 


3 

1807.      score  &  10  1878. 


YEARS 


EXPERIENCE,  ENABLE 

B.  I.  COIPERTMIT  &  CO. 

153,  155  &  157  Chatham  St, 

To  sell  below  all  others,  and  yet  allow  all  buyers 
to  pay  in  convenient  installments, 

FURNITURE, 

CARPETS, 
BEDDING, 

STOVES,  &°* 


14  LARGE  WAREROOMS. 


Largest  Assortment  in  the  City. 

COWPERTHWAIT, 

ESTABLISHED  1807. 


Manufacturer  of  Patented 


BRASS.  SHLVEB-FLATIB  &  SMPMXMWXM 


Established  1848. 


1876. 

Medal  and  Diploma  Awarded  to 

G.  GUHTHER, 

For  Good  Workmanship,  Variety  of  Patterns., 
and  fitness  for  purpose  intended.  (Signed  by  the 
Jurors  and  Centennial  Commission.) 

i©3  *  las  WILLMHt  ST.,  it  f. 


NICHO. 

SCRIBNER'S  ILLUSTRATED  MAGAZINE  FOR  GIRLS  &  BOYS; 
An  Ideal  Children's  Magazine. 

The  London  Literary  World  says  :  "  There  is  no  magazine  for  the  young  that  can  be  said 
to  equal  this  choice  production  of  Scribner's  p;ess." 

ST.  NICHOLAS  STANDS  ALONE  IN  THE  WORLD  OF  BOOKS. 
The  beautiful  number  for  the  CHRISTMAS  HOLIDAYS  contains  the  following  contributors  > 
JOHN  GRE^NLEAF  WHITTIER.  FRANCES  HODGSON  BURN  E  IT. 

SUSAN  COOLIDGK.  OLIVE  THORN K. 

CHGRLES  DUDLEY  WARNER.  JULIAN  HAWTHORNE. 

CELIA  THAXTKR.  M\RY  MAPES  DODGK. 

The  best  Holiday  Present  is  a  subscription  to  St.  Nicholas  ;  it  is  a  monthly  reminder  of 
he  giver.    Price  $3.00  a  year,  25  cents  a  Number. 

Buy  the  Christmas  number  ;  if  you  like  it  try  the  magazine  for  a  year.   Beady  Dec.  14th. 

SCRIBNER   &  CO.,  743   Broadway,  N.  Y. 

SCRIBNER'S  MONTHLY. 

THE  SCRIBNER  EXPEDITION  TO  BRAZIL, 

A  most  important  series  to  appear  in  1879. 

By  Mrs.  Fkances  Hodgson  Burnett,  profusely  illustrated,  will  run  through  1879. 
See  January  number  for  articles  on 

"  THe  Tile  Cl-ub  at  Work," 

By  W.  M.  Laffan,  a  description  of  the  origin  and  life  of  one  of  the  New  York  outgrowths  of 
decorative  art.  The  design,  by  Abbey,  the  tile  in  relief  by  o'Donovan,  the  sculptor,  and  tiles 
or  sketches  by  Hopkinson  9mixh,  Winslow  Homer,  Chase.  Waltkb  Paius,  Wbir,  Kei\habt, 
Wimbhidge,  Quartley  and  tiie  author,  will  be  found  unique  and  charming.  February  number 
will  contain  "  Tile  Club  "  article,  showing  the  club  r  on  the  tramp." 

"  ILaonarcLa  da.  Vinci," 

By  Clarence  Cook,  with  copies  of  Leonardo's  masterpieces,  "The  Last  Supper,"  "  Mona  Lisa,'* 
etc.,  engraved  by  Marsh  and  Cole.    $4  a  year,  35  cts.  a  No    January  No.  ready  Dec.  14th. 
 SCRIBNER  A  CO.,  NEW  YORK. 

1829.  S.  A.  BROOKS  &  CO.  1879 

LATE 

LORIN  BROOKS  &  SON, 

438  BROADWAY,. 

BET.  GRAND  AND  HOWARD. 


Half  a  century  of  great  success  in  the  manu- 
facture and  sale  of 


g   Perfect  Fitting  Boots  and  Shoes. 


THE  BEST  GOODS  AND  LOWEST  PRICES  IN 
THE  CITY. 


Homes  on  the  Sound, 

Within  easy  reach  of  New  York.  Advantages  of  two  Riilroaii  and  Rapid 
Tmisit.  Advantages  of  CITY  LIFE  combined  with  pleasures  of  LIFE  IN  THE 
COUNTRY. 

VILLA  and      DFCinrMfrC     FOR  ALL 
COTTAGE        nil  31 UJU 11  Ltd  CLASSES. 
For  sale  or  rent,  on  moderate  terms,  in  the  BEAUTIFUL  SUBURB  of. 

PELHAM  MANOR. 

For  information  enquire  of 


STEPHENS  BROTHERS,  187  Broadwajr,  N.  Y. 


HOLLERBACH  &  DIEFFENBAGH, 


4I&43 

Beekman  St, 


and  166 
William  St., 
New  York. 


MANUFACTURERS  OF 


MOULDINGS, 


Of  all  Kinds  for 


Frames  and  Decorations. 


Looking  Glasses  and  Picture  Frames 


OF  ALL  SIZES  AND  STYLES. 


WINDOW  CORNICES 


Of  various  Patterns,  &c. 


W.  H.  BROWNING, 


Makes  a  Specialty  in  Ornamental  and  Plain 

Cement  Work. 

DOES  ALSO, 

ALL  KINDS  OF  MASON  WORK 

In  the  most  substantial  manner,  giving  a 
guarantee  of  perfect  satisfaction 
in  every  case. 

THE  SPLENDID 

Tanks  of  the  New  York  Aquarium 

Were  built  under  his   personal  superintendence 
and  he  refers  to  the  Architect  of  the 
Aquarium. 

A.  B.  OGDEN,  Esq.,  and  to  Messrs.  W.  C.  COUP  and  CHAS. 
REICHE  &  Eld.  as  to  his  ability  and  upright- 
ness as  a  practical  Builder  aud 
Contractor. 


Office  443  East  77th  St. 


FOR   ELEGANT  ACCURATE 


PHOTOGRAPHS 

 CO  TO  

ABRAHAM  BOGARDUS' 

Reliable  Establishment 
872  Broadway,  corner  18tli  Street. 


NO  BRAN3HE3  UP  TJWN  OR  DOWN  TOWN. 


PRICES    REDUCED  TO  SUIT   THE  TIMES. 


REMINGTON  &  SONS.  Mfmrc, 

PRICES  GREATLY  REDUCED. 
MILITARY,  SPORTING,  HUNTING  AND  TARGET  RIFLES. 


24-in. 


Sporting  and  Hunting.  No.  1  Model, 

No.  2    "  $20 
Targe' Mid-ran go.    — 


26  in. 

21 

30 
35 


28 -in.  32-in. 

$20  $27 

22  _ 

n  32 

30  37 


M-in 
$.8 

33 

38  &■  up. 


Longe  Range.  34  inches,  $50,  $70,  $100,  ;md  upward. 
Double-Barreled  Guns  Si",  $;}."),  S75,  and  upward. 

"       heavy,  $05,  SO,  and  upward. 
Se»d  ttree  cent  stamp  for  Illustrated  Catalogue  and  Price  List  for  March  187«  also  "  Trca 
tise  on  Bine  Shooting,"  "Kecord  of  the  International  Rifle  Matjh."  "  Hints  and  He' ns  in  the 
Choice  of  a  Rifle,"  etc.  Address, 

ARMORY,  Ilion,  N.  V.       *  *  ■*  K^'-.v,  N.  V. 


THE 


Aquarium  is  Lighted 


by  THE 


Municipal  Gas  Light  Co. 

OFFICE, 

358  &  360  FOURTH  A V., 

Near  23d  Street. 


EUGEKE  B.  BLACKFORD, 

Salmon  Factor, 

|oi§lrr?  |wn|itrJlf,  |oit|riii|||crri(|iiii| 

72,  73,  74,  75.  76,  78  80,  82  84  &  86  Fulton  Market, 

STOREHOUSES, 

134  BEEKMAN  &  223  FRONT  STREET,  NEW  YORK. 

SPECIALTIES. 

.Bia.mcncL  33a.c3s  Terrapin,  Green  Tu.r*ble, 

IRe.3-bigoi3.crie  Salmon,  IBrools  Tron-b, 
Ldi^re  Sels, 

And  all  kinds  of  rare  fish  constantly  on  hand  at  all  seasons. 


WARD1AN  OR  FERN  CASES 


OLD  METHOD  FOI\ 


GROWING  FERNS 
ONLY. 


NEW  METHOD 

OR 

VENTILATING  GLASS  SHADES, 

Patented  Oct.  16.  187S. 
The  air  enters  at  the  base,  circulates 
throughout  the  interior,  ascends,  and  goes 
out  at  the  Ventilator  orening  in  the  crown 
which  is  regulated  to  suit  the  requirements. 
By  keeping  the  Ventilator  closed.  Ferns 
hke  plants  only  are  grown.  With  ver 
liitle  care  in  regulating  the  ventilator. 
Flowers  come  lo  perfection  free  from  disease . 
Full  direction  given  to  buyers. 

PARDESSUS'  FIRE-PROOF  IMPERVIOUS 

Ventilating  Glass  Dome  and  Metal  Sky-Lights. 


Health  promoting,  econom'cal ;  adm'tting  by  their  convexity  the  greatest  quantity  of  light 
for  the  space  occupied  as  well  as  strengtii  aud  durability.  Graceful  in  appearance  on  the  roof 
of  a  building,  (with  base  round  or  square,:  and  an  elcgaut.  finish  from  within. 

Any  form  of  ventilator  in  use  can  be  operated  there  n. 

In  addition  to  the  Dome  principle  for  strength,  the  glat»s  is  thick  and  carefully  tempered — no 
condensation  or  leakage  possible. 

Managed  within  by  a  shut-off,  to  regulate  the  air  current,  so  simply  contrived  as  to  be  con- 
trolled, if  requiied,.by  a  child. 

Cheaper  in  firtt  cos:,  and  in  the  maintenance  than  any  other  Sky-Light  ye'  introduced,  for  com- 
bined purpcaes  of  vkntilation,  light,  a  d  dkcoratio*.  ;  also,  with  weather-cocks,  io  show  the 
direction  of  he  win  \from  within  as  from  without. 

Samples  of  various  patterns,  in  working  order,  on  exhibition. 

S.  J.  PARDESSUS  A  CO  , 

P.  O.  BOX  557.  9  and  11  Pavh  l'lace,  K.  T 


Great  Winter  Excursion  and  only  Direct  Route 

TO 

|  P.,  BJIHAMJI 

The  Great  Sanitarium  and  most 

^  POPULAR  WINTER  RESORT, 

I^Sost  conveniently  reached 
From  New  York  or  Florida,  as  follows  : 

MAIL  STEASMHffPS  especially  arranged  for  the  accommodation  of 
Invalid  and  Tourist  Travel,  leave  \KW  YORfi.  Pier  18,  East  River,  on  -Sat- 
urday, November  l'ith,  and  monthly  thereafter,  fnv  $as*;na  Direct,  pro- 
ceeding thence  to  Santiago  and  Cienfuegos,  the  two  principal  ports  and  most 
pi  turesque  towns  on  the  south  coast  of  Cuba  ;  from  Cienfuegos  the  steamers 
round  Cuba  on  the  north-west,  returning  to  Nassau,  theme  direct  to  New  York. 
This  line  is  operated  during  the  entire  year. 

During  the  Winter  Season,  December  to  April, 

A  MAIL  STEAMSHIP,  having  Superior  Passenger 
Accommodations,  will  make 

THHES   TRIPS  UZOUTZZUY, 

Jacksonville,  Florida,  to  Nassau,  N.  P.,  Bahama, 

EXTENDING  ONE  TRIP  EACH  MONTH 

TO  HAVANA,  CUBA, 

Thus  enabling  Tourists  to  come  from  Nassau  to  Havana,  traversing  the  Island 
of  Cuba  by  rail  to  Cienfuegos.  returning  thence  to  Nassau. 

THIS  LINE  OFFERS  UNRIVALED  ADVANTAGES  TO  TOURISTS 
/-         AND  INVALIDS. 

By  it  Nassau  can  be  reached  from  Florida  in  36  hours.  Touvis  fc  and  Excursion 
Tickets  to  Nassau  and  Havana  are  on  sale  at  Principal  Ticket  Offices  in  all  import- 
ant cities. 

For  particulars  and  Illustrated  Nassau  Guides,  apply  to 
A.  L,  HUNGEBFORD,  Pass'r  Agent, 

GUST  AVE  LEVE  Gen  1  Pass  rAgt.  MlHT8][j  F6ITiS  4  COa*  AgtSi 

271  Rroadivay,  X.  Y..  &  Savannah,  €La.  Q2   SOUTH   STREE  f . 

3- 


|  AV?f*v] 

I  classics  I 


All  Bookbinding  sent  to  our  Establishment,  will  be  well  done 
at  Lowest  Figures. 


CMS.  REICHE  &  BRO.. 


55  CHATHAM  STREET,  N.  Y 

And  Alfeld,  Hanover,  Germany. 


babe  nmm  aub  awimms 


Ringing  j3iRDS,  and 

^IRDS    OF  ^EAUTIFUL  jDLUMAGE 


FOREIGN  ANIMALS  OF  EVERY  KIND  FROM  ALL  PARTS 
OF  THE  WORLD. 


Orders  received  to  procure  any  kind  of  living  bird  or  animal 


GOODS  SHIPPED   TO  ALL  PARTS. 


